The New Yorker just published a profile about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman with one of the strangest illustrations you’ll see this year. The image shows Altman in his typical blue sweater, but floating around his head are multiple creepy faces that barely look like him.
The AI-generated artwork feels like something from a horror movie. Some faces look angry, others shocked, and a few don’t even resemble Altman. It’s the kind of image that makes you do a double-take when scrolling through your news feed.
When AI Art Goes Wrong
This isn’t just bad art – it’s a perfect example of how AI image generators still struggle with basic tasks. The technology that’s supposed to revolutionize creative work can’t even make consistent faces of the same person. While Altman leads the company behind ChatGPT, the magazine’s choice to use wonky AI art for his profile feels almost like unintentional commentary.
The New Yorker has always been known for its distinctive illustrations and cartoons. Seeing them use AI-generated art instead of their usual hand-drawn style marks a notable shift for the prestigious publication.
What This Means
This awkward AI illustration highlights a bigger tension in media right now. Publishers are experimenting with AI tools to cut costs, but the results often look obviously artificial. The irony here is thick – a story about the man promoting AI everywhere gets paired with AI art that actually makes the case against using AI for creative work.
