xQc sparks controversy after claiming AI is already better than most artists

Streaming star xQc is adding more fuel to the fire as the debate surrounding AI art gets even more heated, claiming that tools like ChatGPT are “better than most artists’ best work.”

In a new trend sweeping across social media, netizens are literally “melting” ChatGPT’s processors with requests to recreate photos in the style of Studio Ghibli’s beloved anime films like Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke and Kiki’s Delivery Service.

This fad has reignited the fierce debate surrounding the ethics of using AI to ‘create’ artwork, which has already roped in several massive content creators like Asmongold and Nmplol.

Now xQc has entered the fray, giving a hot take that’s already causing chaos both in and outside his fanbase.

xQc heats up AI debate saying it’s “better than most artists”

After trying out ChatGPT’s image-creating capabilities for himself, the streamer addressed concerned viewers sounding off in his chat, one of whom labeled the trend as “AI slop.”

“Why do you call everything ‘slop’ these days?” xQc responded. “I gotta be honest with you, I feel like ‘slop’ is becoming a buzzword to discredit anything. A lot of AI art coming out is literally better than most artists’ best work.

“If something does better by itself than an artist can do in their entire life, brother, I gotta be honest with you, I don’t give a sh*t. It’s just better.

“I don’t care. Why would I care? I don’t consume the method, I consume the product. If this gives me a better product, I have to give credit where credit is due.”

The influencer’s remarks quickly sparked a heated debate across platforms like Reddit and X, with one user writing: “We’re reaching generational lows in appreciation of art and artists in any form… It’s slop because it takes zero effort to create, like a plate full of sh*t.”

“It’s impressive someone can completely miss the point of art and expression so confidently,” another said.

However, others are in full agreement with the broadcaster, with one writing on X: “He’s right. Most people don’t care how it’s made if it looks cool.”

“I have zero issue with AI when it’s convenient and I’m happy with the end result. So many people have to wait days, weeks or longer to get custom art that’s commissioned by people. This is pretty cool,” another said.

xQc is the latest streamer to speak out on the topic after fellow influencer Asmongold chimed in with an equally harsh sentiment, urging artists to “focus on a career change” and promising that “it’s only gonna get worse” from here.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also addressed the trend in a humorous post on X, joking about his efforts to “make superintelligence to cure cancer or whatever” only to wake up to see hundreds of people using his own AI to make him “into a twink ghibli style”.