Artist Falsely Accused Of Using GenAI Gives The Perfect Response, ‘Don’t Forget What Makes Us Human!

When artist Lois van Baarle—known professionally as Loish and celebrated for her contributions to titles such as Horizon Zero Dawn—was accused of using generative AI in her artwork on TikTok, she responded not with anger but with a measured call for critical thinking. In a detailed video posted to Instagram this week, the Dutch illustrator dismantled the baseless allegations while reminding followers that verifying human authorship is more important than ever in an era of increasingly sophisticated AI imagery.

The controversy began when viewers on TikTok questioned whether one of Loish’s recent pieces was machine-generated. Rather than simply dismissing the claims, the artist used the opportunity to educate her audience about how easily such accusations can be disproven and why they matter so much for working creatives today.

A Process That Speaks For Itself

Loish pointed out that the accusation was particularly unfounded given the extensive documentation she maintains of her creative workflow. She noted that videos on her feed show the step-by-step creation of the very piece in question, proving it was completed in 2023 when generative AI tools were only just beginning to emerge.

The illustrator has been creating and posting art since 2003, and she goes out of her way to demonstrate how her distinctive style has evolved across more than two decades. By sharing her process in such an intimate and useful manner, Loish positioned herself as one of the least likely people anyone might suspect of relying on AI assistance.

“It’s a rough time for artists. We are forced to compete with slop in our social media algorithms and in our creative industries, while our work is relentlessly fed into this machine without our consent. Now we’re at a point where we can be accused of using AI for our art, even when documenting every step of our process.”

Loish (Lois van Baarle)

As Loish continued to explain, the very AI tools generating fake artwork depend on the efforts of artists like her having their work collected and trained upon. She observed that human creativity has now been overshadowed and drowned out by these systems, making false accusations all the more damaging to those doing the original labor.

The Balance Between Diligence And Fairness

In an industry where journalists and players must remain vigilant about detecting AI usage in games, the importance of careful investigation cannot be overstated. While machine-generated content is often obvious, the technology keeps improving at passing off the collective work of many artists as its own, reinforcing the need to investigate rather than assume.

Yet there must also be no room for inaccurate allegations against people who pour their lives into their craft. Thoughtless errors can cause irreparable harm to a creative’s career and reputation, which is why Loish urged her audience toward verification before judgment.

“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… Don’t forget what makes us human!”

Loish (Lois van Baarle)

The artist’s message carried particular weight as she encouraged younger viewers—who have been exposed to AI-generated content for much of their lives—to develop the skills necessary to distinguish authentic work from machine-made output.

Looking Ahead

Loish’s artwork remains available across her Instagram, DeviantArt, and personal website, where fans can spend hours exploring her illustrations. Her social media channels also host full tutorials and detailed breakdowns of her creative process, offering valuable resources for aspiring artists seeking to understand her techniques.

The incident underscores a growing tension within the creative community as generative AI continues to reshape digital art, gaming, and social media. While developers and publishers grapple with how to responsibly integrate these tools, professionals like Loish insist that human authorship should never be taken for granted—or falsely questioned—without proper evidence.