Oakland’s First Fridays is a celebration of local art and culture—thousands gather each month to support what humans make with their hands, hearts, and eyes. So when the event’s spring flyer turned out to be AI-generated, it struck a nerve. Organizers say it was a matter of cost. But critics see something deeper: a creative space losing touch with its roots. In a world rushing toward efficiency, the debate is clear—shouldn’t an art fair be the last place we cut corners on actual artists?
Welcome to one of the debates of the next era — when is it OK to use AI or AI agents, and when should we use people? Art, artists, and creative work will be first up, but he argument will eventually come for nearly all of us. NPR has the full story.
