In recent days, a new trend on social networks has been stirring the web. Known as “starter packs”, these personalized, AI-generated, collectible figurine-style images have come in for fierce criticism from the art world, putting the place of artistic intelligence in art back at the heart of the debate.
A new scandal against a backdrop of technological progress. Over the past few days, many Internet users have been posting their “starter pack” on the networks. The image is intended to represent the person in the form of a blister-packed figurine, accompanied by his or her favourite lifestyle objects. Camera, pet, book, clothes, favorite drink, sport, flowers… All these elements are supposed to represent the user’s life, just like the little dolls sold in stores to amuse children.
On X, TV host Stéphane Bern succumbed to the trend with a “starter pack” promoting his program Secrets d’Histoire. Gard prefect Jérôme Bonet illustrated his image with a pen and a tricolor flag. On Canal+ Sport’s Tiktok account, you can see the starter packs of footballers Kylian MBappé, Ousmane Dembele and Harry Kane, alongside balls, medals, the Golden Ball Cup, watches, a cat and flags. Sportsmen and women, TV stars, actors, politicians… So many public figures and official accounts who have neither drawn these images nor called on artists, but who have generated these visuals from a simple query on an artificial intelligence platform like ChatGPT.
Artificial intelligence: too much for artists
As the trend flooded social networks, the artistic sphere was quick to rise up against “starter packs”. Under the hashtag #starterpacknoAI, artists and illustrators denounce the increasingly predominant role of artificial intelligence in creation. Critics range from the massive standardization of art, to the replacement of real artists by this digital tool, to the ecological impact.
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Featured photo : © Tiktok Canal
