CONCERNS have been flagged over AI’s effect on local artists after one Brit marketgoer spotted stalls selling entirely AI-generated artworks.
One disgruntled local spotted stalls at Camrose Vintage Working Day in Pembrokeshire on Saturday trying to woo potential customers with “tat”.
Situated in a tent meant for local artists to show off their work, the stalls featured tables full of mass-produced items emblazoned with garish images that look to be quite obviously AI-generated.
The stalls allegedly came at the cost of artists and creators who have showcased their wares at the fair for years, leading to worries over what the future holds for those whose livelihoods depend on their own handmade work.
Pictures show a selection of the very much not handmade products on offer, which includes drinks cups, coasters, magnets, prints and signs.
The majority are emblazoned with unnatural digital rendered images, mostly of animals, that bear little resemblance to what they are supposed to represent.
Some feature fake countryside and farming scenes and dragons, in a rather cheeky attempt at appealing to the locals.
Others feature bizarre slogans that wouldn’t look out of place in a tacky gift shop, such as “Not aging, just upgrading” or “Sorry about my terrible siblings, at least you have me”.
The pictures were shared to social media yesterday with the caption: “A craft fair for artists in Wales with several stands selling nothing but AI-generated ‘artwork’.
“This was at Camrose Vintage Working Day, which has a tent dedicated for local artists to sell their work.
“However this year, several new ‘artists’ have stalls selling nothing but AI-generated artwork.
“The worst part is, after speaking to several of the actual artists who were selling their work there, artists who have had stalls at this show for years have been given the boot over these people.
“Absolutely dreadful.”
The post has since received over 8,500 likes and more than 800 comments from disgruntled Brits sharing their thoughts.
One commented: “You missed out chick selling ‘custom made jewellery’… that’s usually crap bought from AliExpress or Temu for £1.”
Another joked: “‘I added the elastic myself.’”
A second wrote: “Most organisers probably prefer money over enforcing quality, I’d wager.
“I’m hopeful that actual artists can market themselves as ‘hand-drawn’ and charge more for their authentic works.”
Another said: “Ban them. Ban the stalls and proprietors. Make a rule against AI-generated products with a harsh penalty.”
A fourth shared their own story: “I attend craft fairs seasonally and I make clay jewellery (mainly for the kids), gemstone jewellery, I paint stones/pictures and I take old items from charity shops and paint things on them.
“I make great money, lots of lovely compliments about my art, but it’s so disheartening sometimes having folk say ‘oh that’s expensive’ for a £3 necklace I’ve put an hour or so into – then they buy exactly this stuff from the next table for much more.
“Last fair this happened, some lady made a comment about my stuff being ‘tat’ as she walked away, went to the next table and bought a fake Starbucks cup for £15.
“They’ll absolutely push people like me out in the next few years.”
Another quipped: “Never thought that tat could get tattier. How wrong I was.”
