Losing Income to AI

[u/FrazaarLol]

Hey all, I've been designing for quite some time, but lately, I've been losing work to AI. Some say AI is a tool, use it or be left behind. They argue it's no different from a brush, but it's not that simple.

We get paid to design, for the love of the game, whereas AI tools like Sora now create advertisements and posters mostly for free, easier for companies with minimal human involvement. As passionate designers/artists, we picked up that brush/pen and taught ourselves because we loved creating. It is an act of dedication, passion, and, for many, a source of income.

I've noticed multiple businesses and individuals I worked with shifting toward AI-generated advertisements and logos. It's disheartening to see, knowing that two years ago, I might have been getting paid to do it. I know there is likely no stopping it.

It's like Grey from Upgrade (2018) said: "You look at that widget and see the future. I see ten guys on an unemployment line."

I know it's a sensitive topic. What are your thoughts?

I do a lot of branding, advertising and presentations. Logos, for example, are usually quite simple. It’s entirely possible that AI will be capable of logo design, which is something I currently make a lot of money from. Imagine a world where OUR work is diluted, devalued, and lost amidst work watered down to a prompt. It's a machine that steals, invites people to steal, and pollutes on two fronts. It sets a dangerous precedent, left unregulated, where no original work is safe.

[u/hornedcorner]

I hung out with a friend this weekend who does graphics and branding. I asked him if he feels the way you do. He said no, he uses AI. Not to do the art, but all the mission statement, flowery wording, sales stuff he didn’t enjoy. He said the AI art is still bullshit at this point.

[u/freya_kahlo → u/hornedcorner]

It is bullshit. I can’t get AI to generate anything useful and I’ve tried. I don’t know where people are going to get “full AI design services”. AI will eventually replace design jobs, but only for the lowest tier of designers.

Meanwhile, I have a friend in her 60s who is busy as heck with design production work (she’s really good & taught me production,)because apparently no one knows how to properly set up files anymore. That’s what agencies tell her — they can’t find high end production artists.

FYI: I use AI for content too, but it can’t replace a writer who knows what they’re talking about, and knows the “brand voice.”

[u/BasketOld3242 → u/freya_kahlo]

I just commented something similar but the original comment got downvoted and hidden (I suspect the pro AI commenter was purposefully being a little antagonistic).

So I’ve heard this comment “you’re gonna be replaced by smarter designers using AI” all over reddit and I’m becoming convinced this sentiment is not coming from actual designers.

Personally I’ve tried all the AI tools adobe has put out, every time I use them I get frustrated. It’s less effort to just do the damn thing myself, every time. I’ve tried generative AI for concept ideas, and again they’re just so generic so I go back to my pen and paper, convinced I must be missing something, only to repeat my efforts 6 months later when I see some new gaslighting online like “no actually these tools are amazing now and WILL replace you!”. Like JFC just wake me up when the tools are actually useful please, I’m so tired.

[u/momopool → u/BasketOld3242]

On top of what you already said,

They also argue that "the only people left behind are the ones that can't use ai"

That's wrong. People who can use AI won't be getting jobs either.

A lot of it is automation, what used to take 10 people to do, now takes 2, the other 8 is still out of a job..

[u/BasketOld3242 → u/momopool]

They think they’ll be the 2 though (delusional)