Artists are facing a difficult contradiction: their work can be absorbed into generative AI systems without consent, then their original creations can be wrongly labelled as AI-made. Digital artist Loish, the professional name of Lois van Baarle, recently experienced that problem after being accused on TikTok of using generative AI.
Process documentation proved the artwork was original
Loish addressed the accusation in a video shared through her social channels. She explained that the artwork in question was made in 2023, before generative AI had fully entered the mainstream, and that she had already posted videos showing how the specific piece was created. Her explanation highlights why process documentation matters, much like the behind-the-scenes material featured in arcade industry videos.
Her broader body of work also provides extensive context. Loish has been making and publishing art since 2003, while regularly documenting the development of her style and sharing practical resources with other artists. Her work has also appeared in the video game Horizon Zero Dawn.
For anyone interested in the relationship between visual art and games, the same principle applies when examining the design behind an arcade machine: the finished object is only part of the story. Process, authorship and the people who made it matter.
A warning against careless accusations
In the text accompanying her post, Loish described the pressure artists now face as their work competes with AI-generated material in social media feeds and creative industries. She also argued that artists’ work is being used to train these systems without permission, only to be buried beneath the content those systems produce.
That makes careful investigation important, particularly in games and other creative industries where audiences are increasingly asking whether human artists were involved. Examining the evidence can help identify inappropriate AI use, but an unsupported allegation can also harm an artist’s reputation and career.
The same care is useful when exploring the history of arcade gaming and industry news. Looking past a striking image, cabinet or promotional claim and checking its origin creates a more informed discussion about creative work.
“Real human connection is so important right now. Which is why it’s so important to learn the skills needed to figure out if something is real: whether it has been created by a living, breathing person. So click beyond the comment section. Check profiles, watch process videos, learn the warning signs for AI generated imagery. Especially if you’re part of a younger generation that has been exposed to this kind of content for much of your life. Don’t forget what makes us human!”
Where to see Loish’s work
Loish’s public profiles offer years of artwork and process material for anyone wanting to understand how her style developed. Her Instagram, DeviantArt and personal website showcase her work, while her Patreon account includes tutorials and detailed creative-process breakdowns.
For artists, players and arcade fans alike, the lesson is straightforward: challenge suspicious content, but do so with evidence. Respect for human creativity requires both vigilance and fairness.
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