‘This is fine’ creator says AI startup stole his art
KC Green, the creator of the 'This is fine' meme, accused AI startup Artisan of using his artwork in an unauthorized subway ad campaign. Green stated he did not agree to the use of his art and criticized AI companies for appropriating creators' work without permission. Artisan responded by saying it respects Green and has reached out to speak with him directly.
- ▪KC Green created the 'This is fine' comic, which first appeared in his webcomic 'Gunshow' in 2013.
- ▪Artisan used Green's artwork in a subway ad featuring the phrase 'my pipeline is on fire' and promoting its AI product.
- ▪Green said he plans to seek legal representation and criticized the burden placed on artists to defend their work in court.
- ▪Artisan previously faced backlash for billboards that said 'Stop hiring humans,' though its CEO claimed the message targeted specific job categories, not people.
- ▪Green urged the public to vandalize the ad, calling the use of his art 'theft' akin to how AI systems appropriate creative work.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
You’ve seen this comic before: An anthropomorphic dog sits smiling, surrounded by flames, and says, “This is fine.” It’s become one of the most durable memes of the past decade, and now AI startup Artisan seems to have incorporated it into an ad campaign — an ad for which KC Green, the artist who created the comic, said his art was stolen. A Bluesky post seems to show an ad in a subway station featuring Green’s art, except the dog says, “[M]y pipeline is on fire,” and an overlaid message urges passersby to “Hire Ava the AI BDR.” Quoting that post, Green said he’s “been getting more folks telling me about this” and that “it’s not anything [I] agreed to.” Instead, he said the ad has “been stolen like AI steals,” and he told followers to “please vandalize it if and when you see it.” i've…
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