ChatGPT Generates Fake New Yorker Cartoons with Real Artists' Signatures
ChatGPT's image generator is producing fake New Yorker cartoons, falsely attributing them to over 15 real artists, including Harry Bliss, Emily Flake, Liza Donnelly, and Brendan Loper, as reported by Nieman Lab in October 2026. This occurs despite OpenAI's 2024 licensing deal with Condé Nast, which explicitly excluded training on cartoons, yet the model still reproduces the magazine's house style and identifiable pen names. For broader context, explore our Top 100 AI Tools.
AI Mimicry and False Attribution
The issue came to light when ChatGPT's image generation capabilities were observed creating cartoons that not only replicated the distinctive house style of The New Yorker but also included identifiable pen names of more than 15 living artists. These signatures, belonging to prominent cartoonists such as Harry Bliss, Emily Flake, Liza Donnelly, and Brendan Loper, were digitally affixed to AI-generated images, creating a deceptive impression of authenticity.
A particularly viral instance involved a cartoon shared on Facebook by a Dolly Parton fan, which featured the pen name "BLOPER"—the signature of cartoonist Brendan Loper. This example quickly gained traction, becoming one of Hacker News' top items of the day, accumulating over 400 points and 300 comments, underscoring the widespread attention and concern this issue generated.
Breaching Licensing Agreements and Trust
This false attribution is especially problematic given OpenAI's 2024 licensing deal with Condé Nast, the publisher of The New Yorker. Crucially, this agreement explicitly excluded permission for training on cartoons. Despite this, the AI model continues to reproduce the magazine's aesthetic and incorporate artists' unique signatures, directly undermining the spirit and letter of such licensing arrangements.
The incident raises critical questions about the effectiveness of current licensing frameworks in preventing AI models from leveraging individual creators' identities. While legal agreements aim to protect intellectual property, the technology's capacity for mimicry appears to outpace these safeguards, creating a challenging landscape for artists and publishers alike.
Impact on Artists and the Creative Industry
The unauthorized use of artists' signatures on AI-generated content carries substantial risks. Real, living artists are being falsely credited for work they did not create, which could potentially damage their professional reputation and market value. For cartoonists like Brendan Loper, whose name is their brand, such misattribution can erode trust and dilute their unique artistic identity.
Nieman Lab further emphasized the gravity of the situation by commissioning Brendan Loper himself to draw a cartoon reflecting on his experience with the AI's appropriation of his signature. This artistic response serves as a poignant commentary on the challenges creators face in the age of advanced AI tools.
Why This Matters Now
This development is a critical signal for the broader creative industry and for anyone interested in AI news. It highlights that even with licensing deals in place, the nuanced aspects of creative identity, such as an artist's signature, can be inadvertently or intentionally replicated by AI. This challenges the assumption that broad licensing agreements alone can fully protect individual creators from the misuse of their distinct styles and identities in AI outputs.
As AI tools become more sophisticated, the line between inspiration and appropriation blurs. This case underscores the urgent need for more robust mechanisms — both technological and legal, to ensure that AI development respects individual creators' rights and prevents the unauthorized use of their unique identifiers.
Conclusion: Navigating the Future of AI and Creativity
The generation of fake New Yorker cartoons with real artists' signatures by ChatGPT is a stark reminder of the ethical and legal complexities emerging with advanced AI. It calls for a deeper examination of how AI models are trained, how they attribute creative works, and how existing legal frameworks can adapt to protect artists in this evolving digital landscape. Moving forward, continued vigilance and collaboration between AI developers, legal experts, and the creative community will be essential to navigate these challenges and foster responsible AI innovation.
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About the Author
Albert Schaper is a co-founder of Best-AI.org. He focuses on product strategy, AI adoption, practical tool selection, and educational content that helps users compare AI products with clearer context.
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