[Reporter’s Notebook] Let’s Move Beyond Blind AI Phobia

The new Naver Webtoon series "The King of Knights Returns with the Gods" received a rating in the 2-star range amid suspicions that it was created using generative AI.
[Photo by Naver Webtoon]

On the 22nd, a controversial new work was uploaded on Naver Webtoon. Suspicions arose that artificial intelligence (AI) had drawn every panel of the new series. As a result, it received the lowest rating among currently serialized works on Naver Webtoon, with a score of 2.41 due to a flood of negative reviews. The production company explained that AI was only used for the final retouching process. They released panels from before and after the retouching and replaced all episodes with the pre-retouched images. To the average reader, only slight differences in coloring and tone were noticeable, but the controversy continued.

The criticism directed at the new work was as follows: "Using AI trained on stolen images shows a lack of copyright awareness and professional ethics," and "It cannot be considered the work of an artist." The argument is that AI-generated images are the result of unauthorized learning from data circulating online, thus constituting stolen artwork. Concerns were also raised that "the platform serializing such works is problematic," and that "AI webtoons will dominate, causing the market itself to disappear." Tremendous anxiety and rejection toward AI erupted.

Some of the fear is understandable. The technological advancements and industrial changes surrounding generative AI are sweeping like a whirlwind. Just this month, AI-related events were packed with participation from big tech companies, startups, and government agencies. A few months ago, the focus was on which AI chatbot could identify the current South Korean president using the latest information and how large the parameter size?comparable to brain size in humans?had grown to emphasize technological superiority. Now, the emphasis is on persuading how crucial AI utilization skills are for future competitiveness.

However, fear should not lead to reflexive rejection of technology or witch-hunt style attacks. It is inappropriate to label generative AI as a "monster" when AI technology is already widely used. This is true even in webtoons. Naver and Kakao webtoon platforms use AI recommendation technology to effectively promote works. AI is also employed to detect illegal reproductions. Some artists themselves receive AI assistance for coloring or background work.

Blind technophobia yields no benefits. There has always been resistance to new technologies, but humanity has progressed by harnessing them. With the invention of the printing press, scribes who wrote letters as a profession disappeared, but a new knowledge class and civil society emerged. When steam-powered vehicles appeared, coachmen vanished, but new industries were created. Whether AI brings a utopia or dystopia depends on those who use it. Communicating openly about the pros and cons of technology is the way to properly understand and control AI.