A growing number of artists in China are launching a boycott against one of the nation’s prominent social media platforms due to concerns surrounding its AI-generated art tool.
The controversy ignited in August when an illustrator known as Snow Fish accused Xiaohongshu, a privately-owned social media platform, of employing her artwork to train their AI tool, Trik AI, without her consent or knowledge.
Trik AI specializes in crafting digital art with the aesthetic of traditional Chinese paintings. It’s important to note that the tool is still in the testing phase and hasn’t been officially launched.
Snow Fish, who has been identified by her Xiaohongshu username to protect her privacy, discovered the issue when friends forwarded her posts featuring artwork on the platform remarkably similar to her distinctive style. These artworks boasted sweeping, brush-like strokes, vibrant red and orange hues, and depictions of natural landscapes.
In a widely circulated post among her followers and fellow artists, Snow Fish demanded an explanation from Trik AI: “Can you explain to me, Trik AI, why your AI-generated images are so similar to my original works?”
This controversy erupted shortly after China introduced regulations governing generative AI, positioning itself as one of the first governments to impose regulations on this technology. This move reflects a global concern about AI’s potential impact on employment, national security, and intellectual property.
Neither Trik AI nor Xiaohongshu, with its claimed 260 million monthly active users, have publicly disclosed the materials used to train their AI program or offered a public response to the allegations.
