Rob Biddulph, an acclaimed children's author and illustrator—widely recognized for his #DrawWithRob initiative during the pandemic—has voiced strong concerns regarding the rapid spread of AI-generated art. Despite receiving the 2025 Illustrator of the Year award, Biddulph warns against the growing prevalence of synthetic visuals in public spaces, from posters in cafes to local event advertisements.
The Lack of Human Soul in AI Art
For Biddulph, the primary issue lies in the intrinsic qualities of human expression. «One of the things I love about illustration is that it's an expression of somebody's individual personality. Human beings can't help but put a bit of their own personality into a drawing or a design,» he notes.
He argues that the appeal of traditional art stems from the visible quirks, imperfections, and personal decisions made by the artist. In contrast, he finds AI-generated imagery to be largely «soulless» and generic, questioning the irony of using machine-made content to promote community-focused local events.
A Threat to Freelancers and Creative Professionals
Beyond the aesthetic debate, there are significant economic implications. AI models are trained on massive datasets comprising the work of human artists—often without consent or compensation. These systems then generate content that directly competes with the very creators whose labor built them.
Biddulph emphasizes that the creative sector is not just a hub for the wealthy, but a massive network of freelancers, small studios, and independent photographers and writers. For many, the rise of AI could mean the erasure of essential career entry points and a drastic reduction in commissions.
The Fight for Licensing and Regulation
When asked if AI companies have effectively secured a permanent victory, Biddulph remains defiant. He points to successful advocacy in the UK, where creative industries pushed back against government proposals that would have allowed AI training on copyrighted materials by default.
He advocates for a clear ethical framework:
«My own feeling is that the principle should be fairly straightforward: if you want to use somebody else's creative work to build a commercial product, you should have to ask permission and pay for it.»
Biddulph argues for an «opt-in» licensing system rather than the current «opt-out» model. He concludes that while AI technology is an established reality, its current business model is not. Protecting the rights of creators is essential, he asserts, as it defines what society values: «It's about establishing what we value as a society, and whether we believe that human creativity has an intrinsic value that deserves to be protected. And I think that's a fight worth having.»