Bloomsbury 'unaware' image used to design Maas paperback was AI-generated

Bloomsbury says it was “unaware” an image it used from a photo library as part of the design process for the UK paperback cover of Sarah J Maas’ House of Earth and Blood was AI-generated when the publisher licensed it.

The Verge reported Maas’ book credited Adobe Stock for the illustration of a wolf on its cover, and that this matched an image created by user Aperture Vintage and marked as AI-generated on Adobe’s site. The move led to criticism of both Maas and Bloomsbury on social media. Twitter user @kalaelizabeth, a freelance illustrator, said they were "extremely disappointed" to see AI used. "Using adobe stock created by an AI generator that steals from hard working artists, while also avoiding paying a real illustrator is abhorrent" they tweeted. 

Another user, @KingWenclas, said the move "looks to be a betrayal by the publishing industry of artists".

AI has dominated trade conversations in the last few weeks, as Bradford Literary Festival came under fire for using an AI-generated image in its promotional material (which it has since apologised for and removed), at the same time as academic publishers look to “embrace” opportunities provided by the technology. Many have expressed concern about the way AI scrapes information and artwork without people’s consent, and could threaten jobs.