I wanted to write an in-depth piece on my feelings about AI, ChatGPT, Gemini and all the other LLM (Large Language Model) “solutions” that are being touted as a way for people to create art, design, prose and other creative endeavours. Then I found an article by the illustrator and artist Christoph Niemann which was published in the New York Times Magazine on the 23rd of June 2025. It summed up my thoughts in an eloquent visual essay. I’ve attached a gift link so that you can read it below. Go ahead and click on it, I’ll be here waiting…
If you’re reading on, I’ll assume that you’ve read the linked article and you understand where I—and consequently, Grafica by the Sea—am coming from in terms of how we feel about the rise of LLMs as a creative tool. But, in case you need clarification, I would emphasise the following three points:
The use of AIs to create artwork, design, or other creative work is fundamentally taking work away from creatives, who already struggle to make a living. It’s also vapid, banal and has no soul, unlike something created by a human. There’s no creative spark or happy accidents that lead to real, valuable outcomes.
To be sure, there are times when using AI is quite handy, like when doing a repetitive task, or starting writing a difficult email. But simply relying on AI to do all the work for you without editing the final result is the road to serfdom.
All this to say: We here at Grafica do not use AI for anything other than the simplest of tasks, and that’s the way it will stay.
Let’s create something brilliant together.
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Grafica by the Sea is a family-run business whose clients come from all walks of life and many…
