It appears that Netflix has chosen to use AI art tools to expand out Arcane‘s core imagery to fit television resolution better, prompting severe backlash from fans online. In response, the brand lead for Riot Games Music, Alex ‘Astryx’ Shahmiri has branded the move “disrespectful,” confirming that the expanded art has been removed from the League of Legends spinoff show’s loading screen.
The image, which depicts a maniacal Jinx embracing a frightened Vi, appears as an idle screen when you hover the show’s listing. In an attempt to extend its resolution to fit television dimensions, Netflix seems to have used an AI art tool, which eagle-eyed League of Legends fans spotted on November 21.
Honing in Jinx’s hand specifically, her pinky finger is completely blurred and the arm itself looks oddly disproportionate. “Netflix using AI to extend a poster for Arcane of all shows is so disappointing and disrespectful,” the post reads.
In a response penned just a few hours later, Shahmiri writes, “Appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We have a strict stance of no AI for anything relating to Arcane because it’s disrespectful to the incredible artists who worked on the show.
“This image was a mistake and has since been removed. [Thank you] again for calling it out.” At the time of writing, I cannot see the image on the UK’s Netflix app.
This comes in the wake of a controversial job posting on Riot Games’ website for a “Research Scientist Intern – Generative AI.” Focusing on using generative systems to “inform decisions and develop robust research prototypes and inform data powered products,” the job immediately came under fire. In 2024 alone Riot Games has seen two rounds of layoffs, with the latter axing numerous creative-focused jobs.
Some have been quick to draw parallels between this incident and the new job listing, prompting one fan to ask Shahmiri about Riot’s plans for AI. “I can only speak to what I work on. From a purely personal level, I’m not a fan of AI because what makes art so special is the human connection and feeling,” he writes.
“Be it through art, music, or any creative medium – it’s something I never want to see replaced by AI.”
If you’re back on the Rift in the wake of Arcane, we have a rundown of Jinx Fixes Everything Act 2 if you’re struggling to piece together Silco’s puzzles. Alternatively, here’s our Arcane Season 2 review for Act 1; trust me when I say it’s one of the best shows ever made.
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