In a recent interview, renowned manga artist Oh! Great!famous for works such as “aerial equipment” and “Bakemonogatari“, shared his opinion on the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in creating illustrations. Oh! Great has expressed skepticism about AI's ability to make humans happy through art.

The artist commented that ultimately it all comes down to communication:

• «When we talk to someone, we try to anticipate how that person will receive our words, a kind of anticipatory telepathy. I think this skill is also necessary when drawing manga. Even though I'm not a very good conversationalist in real life, I feel like I can try hard in manga. However, in their current state, AIs do not have the ability to generate emotions that make humans happy. In other words, I believe they cannot create in the true sense of the word. If anyone finds out the secret, please tell me!».

According to Oh! Great, what really defines a great manga artist is not just pretty drawings. The key is the ability to communicate with readers on a deeply human level through art. He noted that many successful manga artists are not necessarily the best artists, but they succeed thanks to this human element they incorporate into their works.

• «Until now, I may not have shown much of my true self in my work. Thinking back on it, I think I had subconsciously avoided doing so. But this time, I felt I had to show it. Manga is not just about technique or knowledge, but about the emotional and personal content of the creator.».

Oh! Great emphasized that while AIs can replicate drawing styles and techniques, they lack the ability to understand and convey human emotions authentically. «True artistic creation involves an emotional connection that AIs, in their current state, cannot replicate.“, he added. In short, ah! Great invites us to reflect on the importance of emotional communication in art and how this human dimension is what truly connects creators to their audience.

Source: Gendai Business

The entry Popular mangaka isn't afraid of AIs was first published on Kudasai.