Warberg criticizes AI-generated Christmas stamps by Postal Services in Norway

Illustrator Johanna Warberg expresses her frustration as Postal Services introduce AI-generated designs for their Christmas stamps. A regular buyer of stamps, Warberg’s excitement diminished significantly upon seeing this year’s holiday brochure, lamenting the lack of genuine craftsmanship from a large company capable of hiring skilled artisans.

Warberg, a recent graduate from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts and working as a freelance illustrator, joins a chorus of voices in the art community concerned about the use of artificial intelligence in creating Christmas stamps. Students from two sixth-grade classes in Drøbak were tasked with generating designs using AI, which Warberg believes should instead feature children’s own artwork. “Child drawings are charming. Why not let the kids create them themselves?” she asks, criticizing the generic nature of AI-generated content.

Flu Hartberg, another leading illustrator, agrees, stating that the children should be encouraged to draw independently. He feels that conventional child art would have been well-received by the public, and he notes that the current approach undermines the traditional value of hand-drawn contributions. Hartberg has even circulated a petition against the Postal decision, criticizing it for legitimizing AI-generated artwork.

The Postal Services, represented by its stamp director Halvor Fasting, acknowledges the criticism. He emphasizes the initiative’s intent was to engage children’s creativity while offering a fresh perspective through an AI lens. While recognizing the concerns, Fasting assures that this experiment will not be repeated, reaffirming their commitment to commissioning local artists in future projects. He acknowledges the ongoing challenges posed by AI technologies to traditional roles within the industry, reflecting broader anxieties about job security for illustrators.