Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Like Sarah Connor in The Terminator, San Diego Comic-Con is fighting back against artificial intelligence. The prestigious, long-running pop culture convention has banned all AI-generated artwork from its 2026 Comic-Con art show. rules The post on the Comic-Con website now states that AI-generated art will not be displayed in any form.
“Materials generated by artificial intelligence (AI), whether partially or completely, are not permitted in the art gallery. If there are questions, the art gallery coordinator will be the sole arbiter of acceptability,” the site reads.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased technical content and lab reviews. Add CNET As Google’s preferred source.
A San Diego Comic-Con representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In the past, the conference has allowed participants to display AI-based artwork, provided that it is clearly marked as such and not sold. But now, these artists can’t even get her through the door. The rule change is a response to artist-led resistance, according to 404 Media a report. San Diego Comic-Con is one of the most popular pop culture conventions in the world, bringing together comics, film, television, toys, cosplay and collectibles.
Jim Zub, writer of the Conan the Barbarian and Dungeons and Dragons comic book series, told CNET he supports Comic-Con’s decision and hopes other conventions will follow suit.
“Hundreds of thousands of people attend San Diego Comic-Con every year, and the excitement they generate isn’t because they’re eager to meet a computer that spits monolithic garbage,” Zub said.
Zob, who is also an artist, is scheduled to appear at Comic-Con in 2026.
Entertaining artificial intelligence
The use of generative AI in comic books and pop culture art has sparked controversy in recent years as AI programs have become more adept at imitating creators.
The main focus of the 2023 actor strike involved a backlash against the use of artificial intelligence in films and television. This issue continued To disrupt Hollywood, actors, special effects designers and other film industry workers see the technology as a threat, while some film studios look to artificial intelligence as a way to reduce production costs.
Netflix has already started Using AI-generated imagery in at least one series, the Argentine sci-fi show El Eternauta. CEO Ted Sarandos praised the technology during a 2025 earnings call.
“We remain convinced that AI represents a great opportunity to help creators make movies and series better, not just cheaper,” Sarandos said at the time.
Artificial intelligence is also a problem in Video game industrywhere publishers quickly face backlash when fans discover the use of artificial intelligence in a game. The Indie Game Awards canceled two awards for successful RPG game, Light and Darkness: Expedition 33after they discovered that AI-generated placeholder assets were included at the game’s launch. The game developer quickly patched the assets.
While the film and video game industries seem to have differing views on the use of AI, Comic-Con has taken a firm stance, at least for now.
“Artists, writers, actors and other creatives come together and celebrate the popular arts in person because the people are the part of the equation that matters most,” Zub said.