When the deckchair trail was revealed this summer, artist and illustrator Hannah Grahamslaw said: “It’s not just the impact on my own employment that offends me, my concerns are mainly that all AI ‘art’ is stolen from artwork created by real artists.
“It is is damaging to the environment. It takes jobs from artists, without whom North Yorkshire would be an extremely dull and grey place.”
Tony Watson, North Yorkshire Council’s head of economy and tourism, said the trail had been a successful part of the town’s anniversary celebrations.
It had provided a “free, family-friendly attraction that encouraged residents and visitors to explore different areas of Scarborough throughout the summer”, he said.
The trail had generated more than 14,000 QR code scans and had high engagement and attracted “positive feedback from participants and host venues as well as considerable social media interest”, Watson said.
He added that the authority had held constructive discussions with local artists who had expressed concerns about the role of AI in the design process.
“While we believe its use was justified in this instance, we will continue to consider such technology on a case-by-case basis.”