AI-Generated Book Sparks Outrage in Italian Comics Scene

On October 9, 2023, Italian publisher Eris Edizioni announced the release of 'Sunyata', a book created by philosopher, artist, and L'Indiscreto director Francesco D'Isa in collaboration with generative AI tools like Midjourney. The announcement triggered a wave of negative reactions from the Italian comics and illustration community on Facebook, who criticized the publisher for initially omitting the AI involvement and for what they see as a threat to artists' copyright. Eris responded with a statement defending the project as a legitimate artistic research, noting that D'Isa has developed a recognizable style and contributed to the debate on AI through essays. The publisher also stated that the work will be released in the public domain and expressed support for copyleft and open access to generative technologies. Critics, however, argue that AI-generated images are 'stolen' from artists without consent. The controversy highlights broader tensions around AI and copyright, with some European artists forming the European Guild for Artificial Intelligence Regulation (EGAIR) to push for stricter rules in the EU's AI Act, including requirements for informed consent and use of only public data. Eris's stance aligns with its libertarian countercultural roots, but the community remains divided.