The Fragile Life
of an Artist
Once upon a time, a Chinese farmer found a goose that laid golden eggs. Day after day, the farmer lived comfortably, relying on the miraculous goose to sustain him. Yet, tempted by greed, the farmer grew impatient and decided to take everything at once—killing the goose, only to find there was nothing inside. The Artist’s AI Dilemma mirrors this parable in many ways. Today, creative individuals struggle to sustain themselves in a world increasingly dominated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Their creative skills are their golden eggs, but AI threatens to “cut them open,” removing the very work that allows them to survive.
The Reality
of Artists’ Lives
For centuries, the myth of the “starving artist” has persisted—a romanticized view of struggle in the name of passion. However, the truth is far less poetic. Most artists cannot rely solely on selling their art to make a living. Instead, they supplement their income by working in adjacent creative fields:
- Designing websites and logos.
- Illustrating books, especially for children.
- Working as art directors, animators, or freelance illustrators.
These jobs act as the backbone of artists’ livelihoods, giving them the financial stability to pursue their passion projects. Without these supplementary streams of income, many artists would find it impossible to survive.

“The Ultimate AI Friend” by the artist BB for Artier.NET © 2025 BB & Artier.NET. All rights reserved.
The Encroachment
of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence has transformed the landscape of creative industries. Tools like MidJourney and DALL·E can create stunning images in seconds, while platforms like ChatGPT generate scripts, stories, and marketing copy almost instantly, and here is exactly where we can find the artist’s AI dilemma. What’s most alarming is how quickly these tools replace human creativity in secondary fields critical to artists:
- Illustration: AI can now produce illustrations for children’s books at a fraction of the cost, leaving human illustrators struggling to compete.
- Web Design: Automated platforms like Wix and Squarespace, powered by AI, generate professional designs without the need for a designer.
- Animation and Storyboarding: AI-generated storyboards are being embraced by studios, pushing human artists further out of the pipeline.
While clients enjoy the speed and affordability of AI, artists are watching their most reliable sources of income disappear.
The Artist’s AI Dilemma:
They are losing the Battle
Consider the story of Mei, an illustrator from Shanghai, who has spent the last 15 years creating whimsical children’s books. Recently, she lost a major contract when the publisher opted to use AI-generated artwork instead of hiring her. “It’s not just about the money,” she says. “It’s about being replaced. I spent years developing my style, but now it feels like anyone can press a button and achieve the same thing.”
Similarly, another example of The Artist’s AI Dilemma, Leo, a freelance web designer in Paris, has seen his rates slashed as clients turn to AI-driven website builders. “People don’t understand the value of human creativity anymore,” he laments. “They think AI can replace us, but AI doesn’t bring the same soul to the work.”
The Future
of Creative Work
The rise of AI is not just a technological revolution; it’s a cultural reckoning. As AI continues to dominate creative industries, artists are being forced to make difficult choices:
- Some are pivoting to entirely new professions, abandoning their dreams of creative work.
- Others are reluctantly integrating AI into their workflow, using it as a tool to supplement their creativity.
- A few are fighting back, advocating for ethical AI usage and urging clients to prioritize human-driven art.
However, the broader concern remains: if creative jobs become unsustainable, what will happen to the art itself?
Lessons from
the Chinese Parable
The story of the goose that laid golden eggs warns us of the dangers of short-term thinking. By prioritizing speed and cost-efficiency over human creativity, we risk destroying the very source of inspiration and innovation that art brings to our lives. AI may produce impressive results, but it cannot replicate the depth of human emotion, intuition, and originality that true artistry requires.
In The Artist’s Dilemma, this parable becomes more relevant than ever. We must resist the temptation to prioritize convenience over creativity.
Artier’s Point of View:
Protecting the Heart of Art
Artists have always been the soul of society, reflecting its joys, struggles, and aspirations. Yet, in the age of AI, their survival is at stake. To preserve the beauty and authenticity of art, we must find ways to support artists—not just as creators of passion projects, but as professionals whose skills deserve respect and fair compensation.
The farmer in the parable killed his goose and lost everything. Let us not make the same mistake by sacrificing human artistry for the illusion of convenience. Instead, let us invest in the artists who enrich our lives and ensure their golden eggs keep coming.