AI in Leith Festival Posters Sparks Controversy

0:00A 119-year-old community bash and leaf called the Leith Festival is catching heat because one of its organizers used AI to whip up. Promo posters and social posts. Darren Smith, a graphic designer on the board, generated funky characters with AI tools, then polished them in Illustrator and Photoshop. Folks are mad, saying a local celebration should spotlight real artists instead. Earlier this week, complaints poured in from residents and artists who feel snubbed. Darren defends it, explaining AI cut down on time and costs compared to hunting stock images, especially with a volunteer crew stretched thin. The festival's theme, Eat Sleep Leith repeat, was locked in early January, so he moved fast and got board approval. Local artists hit back hard, questioning why no call went out for volunteers to design instead. One Edinburgh creator called it a shock, offering skills for authentic work over what she sees as wasteful AI. The festival posted a statement back in creative tech alongside human talent, but critics

1:02say it's too late. Darren emits the backlash dinged his mental health, making him doubt himself despite no bad intent. He welcomes artists' volunteers for next year, but this time, the deadline was tight. Meanwhile, he's handled marketing for years, and stands by getting the job done efficiently. The Gala hits leaf links on June 13th with music, food, games, and stalls, plus a community pageant and tattoo finale. As this historic event rolls on, expect more chats on blending old school community vibes with new tech tools. That's the story for today. Edinburgh News Today, Driven by AI. I'm Corey with The Story.