Abbas Naaseri / We have previously discussed artworks created by artificial intelligence. In recent years, we have witnessed a new and controversial phenomenon in the art world: works that are produced not by the direct hand and mind of the artist, but with the help of AI—often featuring stunning visual performances and complex techniques. These creations have made their way into festivals and, in some cases, have even won awards. This trend has sounded an alarm bell for the art community and festival organizers.
Until recently, we saw unknown individuals, hoping to win festival prizes, producing and submitting works created with artificial intelligence. But nowadays, due to the weakness of the judges, it has become common for artists who were already known in the cartoon world to turn to AI. Often, to mislead the judges, they use several AI tools to produce works in multiple styles and then combine them to deceive others—taking a head from one source, a body from another, a background from yet another, and sometimes not even bothering to re-edit or recolor the result.
Now the question is whether a work that uses artificial intelligence merely as a tool should be considered acceptable or not. If such works are allowed, God knows what unfair uses these artists might make of this technology, pushing competitions toward greater inequality and injustice. These creations cannot be placed alongside the works of artists who have spent hours or even days bringing their ideas to life with their own hands.
Do the judges, who often seem to gather more like a casual get-together than a serious panel, really have the ability to recognize such works? Or do they even care? Some cartoonists deceive both themselves and the judges—but the online world is small. Sooner or later, these works will be seen, and there will always be knowledgeable audiences who can spot how much artificial intelligence has played a role in their creation.
It is essential for organizers to pay careful attention when selecting judges and to establish clear rules in the festival calls. In my opinion, if the use of artificial intelligence is prohibited, it should be completely forbidden in all forms—even as a primary or secondary tool.
We always raise our voices about the issues in cartoons and caricatures, but judges, participants, and organizers seem to have put themselves into a state of artificial unconsciousness—and a person who has done so cannot be awakened. Immediate, effective, and practical measures must be taken to address this challenge.
For maintaining justice and authenticity in competitions, festivals can adopt the following measures:
- Festival rules should clearly state whether works created using artificial intelligence are allowed or not. If AI works are allowed, a separate category should be established so that competition between humans and machines remains fair. In this category, AI works are judged separately and are not compared with hand-made works.
- Given the judges’ unfamiliarity, in cases where the authenticity of a work is in doubt, participants should be asked to submit documentation of their creation process, such as preliminary sketches, drafts, photos, or videos.
- Judges should be trained in recognizing AI-generated works. With proper professional training, they can identify algorithmic traces in the artworks.
- Due to judges’ unfamiliarity, a specialized committee should be established to verify suspected AI-generated works. This technical committee reviews the works and documentation and reports its findings to the jury.
The time has come to focus more than ever on the value of ideas and the true essence of an artist’s creativity, and not allow “artificial smarts” to overshadow authenticity and fairness in art festivals. In the end, real art will always be a reflection of human thought, emotion, and hands — not merely an algorithmic process.
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Weekly Single Page of Cartoonmag
No 52
Saturday , 16. Aug . 2025
This single page has been prepared to remind the news and calls published on the cartoon magazine website and it is supposed to be published every Saturday.
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