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Auburn designer: AI is 'wild west' now but likely to become a tool for municipal graphics
Summary
Kevin McCoy told the podcast AI art tools are currently prone to errors (hands, fingers, fine details) and predicted AI will evolve into a useful tool for designers while cautioning against misuse by nonprofessionals.
Kevin McCoy, the city’s graphic designer, told the podcast that artificial-intelligence tools for creating images are currently "the wild, wild west," but he predicted the technology will mature into a useful part of designers’ workflows.
"I consider AI as more of a tool. But right now, it's just, the wild, wild west," McCoy said, adding that professionals can spot gaps in AI outputs — for example, the rendering of hands, fingers, hair and intricate clothing details. He compared the technology’s trajectory to the early days of Photoshop, saying new tools are often resisted before they become standard parts of practice.
McCoy recommended that designers "honor the basics" of composition and hierarchy when using AI and said he has used AI as a step in the creative process (for example, converting a concept into a workable mock-up and then recreating it from scratch). He warned that some people may abuse AI by passing generated work off as their own without understanding the craft it should augment.
The podcast did not address procurement, licensing, or city policy on AI use in municipal graphics; staff did not announce any official guidance during the episode.
