Pokemon TCG Art Contest At Center of Latest AI Controversy

The 2024 Pokemon TCG art contest is the center of the latest AI controversy as The Pokemon Company disqualifies multiple entries accused of being AI-generated. The Pokemon TCG Illustration Contest offers artists the chance to get their creation printed on a Pokemon card and cash prizes.

Having been around for almost three decades, Pokemon TCG is a beloved card game played by thousands of Pokemon lovers. In 2021, in order to tap into the game's community, the Pokemon Company created the first official Pokemon TCG Illustration Contest for artists internationally. The contest ended in June 2022 and the winner was an illustration of Arcanine, which was included in an online Pokemon TCG card exhibition. This year's edition theme is "Magical Pokemon Moments" and artists submitted their work until January 31. On June 14, Pokemon TCG announced the top 300 quarter-finalists, but many entries were accused of being generated or enhanced by AI.

Now, Pokemon TCG has disqualified several entries from the Pokemon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 finalists list. According to an official social media post, the eliminated participants had "violated the official contest rules." The game also confirmed that other artists who were participating would now be added to the top 300. While the statement does not specify that the disqualifications are AI-related, the decision comes after many fans pointed out how multiple quarter-finalists were AI art. Evidently, the presence of AI work in an art contest this relevant stirred up controversy, and Pokemon faced a lot of criticism.

Pokemon TCG Disqualifies Multiple Art Contest Entries

After the disqualification announcement, many fans and artists are praising Pokemon TCG for its decision. After all, fan art is a major thing inside the Pokemon community. Artists use their talent and creativity to share amazing pieces every day, like a human form of Eevee or a terrifying version of Fuecoco. Sometimes they even spend hours on their creations just to show their love for the franchise.

It is unclear how the judges of the Pokemon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 did not recognize the alleged AI pieces when selecting the top 300, but fans find it a relief that some action was taken. The competition will grant cash prizes to the top winners, with the first place earning five thousand dollars and the top three winners having their illustrations printed on a promo card.

In the past, Pokemon used AI technology for a Scarlet and Violet tournament as an assistant in live match analysis. In an art contest, however, allowing generative AI in the highest ranks can be considered an insult to artists.

The Pokemon TCG community is a very active one. The rarest cards can be worth millions of dollars and fans go to great lengths to get their hands on them. On the other hand, a new Pokemon TCG mobile app is on the way for Pokemon lovers to enjoy digitally.