Zing Tip #7: Why AI Isn’t as Free as You May Think It Is

We shouldn’t be surprised.  When Costco samples workers are prepping the next snack, you can expect to see a rush. Eat up, kids! This is dinner!

So when artificial intelligence (AI) systems like ChatGPT showed up and people could just type in some keywords to get a flyer in return, the floodgates opened. Suddenly everyone and their nephew is a designer. 

Those of us in the printing business are being sent AI-generated files and asked to make posters, signs, and banners. There’s just one problem: the artwork isn’t usable to do that.

AI artwork is low resolution.

That means graphics and words will look pixelated and fuzzy when enlarged 4 or 10 or 20 times the size of the AI file.

We also see misspellings in AI-generated files, some quite embarrassing. I’ve seen a band promote itself using AI posters that misspell the name of the band!

We’ve been down this road before with free graphics programs like Microsoft Publisher and Canva. But at least with them, there was a chance to make edits.

There are software tools that can increase the quality of the artwork. But you have to subscribe or buy credits. Free isn’t free anymore.

Remember the old adage: you get what you pay for.

AI may have its value in some things but the time spent using it only to learn it can’t be reproduced well in larger print applications, along with the sameness seen from one ad to the next, should tell you it really isn’t as free as you think.