Bridging Tradition and Technology: Why and How I use AI Art in Worldbuilding

Exploring the Use of AI in Worldbuilding Art for Sayarii

As I develop Legends of Sayarii, a sprawling RPG worldbuilding project for a single author, I’ve chosen to incorporate AI-based image generation tools, like Midjourney and Photoshop’s AI features, into the project’s visual development. I know this choice is controversial, particularly within role-playing communities that value authenticity and traditional artistry. My hope here is to share some of the the reasoning behind my choice, the approach I take, and ultimately, why I believe this can be a responsible and meaningful medium for creating art in worldbuilding. 

Why I Chose to Use AI in Creating Art for Sayarii

The Sayarii Project is a labor of love, developed entirely for my own enjoyment and my game sessions, but with an open invitation for others to use it as a free resource. As a single father with a full-time job, my time is limited. While I am fully capable of creating artwork by hand, AI tools allow me to populate this world with engaging visuals in a timeframe that works within my reality. For a self-funded, passion-driven project, the ability to generate captivating images efficiently is invaluable, keeping me focused on other aspects of the project that need my time and care.

A Foundation in Fine Art and Artistic Credibility

My background in art has significantly shaped how I approach creative tools, including AI. With a master’s degree in fine art, my education emphasized foundational skills such as drawing and realistic rendering, which I found essential for building a credible artistic foundation. These skills were not just about technique but about intentionality—demonstrating mastery historically reassures audiences that creative choices, however unconventional, are deliberate and thoughtful. (Consider this the next time you visit a museum and wonder, Could I do that?)

Similarly, artists like Jackson Pollock, who began with classical techniques before redefining art through abstract expressionism, highlight the value of a solid foundation. While I don't believe an art education is a prerequisite for using AI-generated art, I do think it helps with achieving more controlled, intentional outcomes. My training has allowed me to engage with these tools critically and thoughtfully, making them a natural extension of my creative process in Sayarii, rather than a departure from it.

Debunking Misconceptions About AI Art

One of the most frequent criticisms of AI-generated art is the accusation that its training process is inherently plagiaristic. As someone who has studied art history and spent years honing my skills through observation and practice, I find this view problematic and somewhat oversimplified. While it’s true that AI models “learn” by analyzing large databases of existing art, this process isn’t the same as copying or plagiarizing. In fact, it mirrors, in a digital context, how many artists develop their skills. When I was learning, I frequently drew inspiration from other artists, studying their techniques and, at times, attempting to recreate aspects of their work to better understand my craft. This wasn’t theft—it was a process of learning through observation, a method as old as art itself.

In a similar way, AI “learns” from analyzing patterns, colors, and styles found in existing works. Each AI-generated image is a unique synthesis, not a direct reproduction or a mere collage of pre-existing images. The AI doesn’t “collect” or “assemble” fragments of other artworks; rather, it generates new images based on its understanding of artistic styles, which it has developed through training. This doesn’t entirely negate the concerns about AI’s impact on originality, but it does suggest a different kind of creation—one that isn’t reducible to plagiarism.

Furthermore, the debate over AI art isn’t entirely new. History has seen similar uproar over technological advancements in art, especially when photography emerged in the 19th century. Many artists and critics of that time argued that photography would diminish the value of traditional hand-rendered images, fearing the decline of painting as a respected form. This wasn’t an isolated instance—crafts like ceramics, shoemaking, and textiles have also seen moments of tension and transformation as technology advanced. While some artisans worried about losing their relevance, many adapted, integrating new tools into their practices. These crafts evolved alongside technology rather than being erased by it.

I believe that art made with AI will likely evolve similarly, creating a place alongside traditional art forms rather than replacing them. As with photography or other transformative technologies, AI art can coexist with established practices, offering new creative possibilities while encouraging artists and audiences to rethink the boundaries of art. This integration, rather than a strict divide, has historically allowed new forms to enrich and diversify the artistic landscape. I’m confident that both traditional and AI-driven art will continue to coexist, challenging and inspiring each other in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

Embracing AI Responsibly and Creatively

Whether or not we agree with it, AI tools are here to stay. For me, embracing AI isn’t about replacing traditional art but exploring a new medium responsibly and thoughtfully. By questioning and experimenting with these tools, we can begin to answer some of the larger questions surrounding this shift in image-making. How do these tools influence our creativity, and how might they coexist with the traditions that shaped them? Responsible use means acknowledging these tools as extensions of the artistic process rather than shortcuts to avoid it.

Ultimately, my use of AI in Sayarii is about expanding the resources I can share with the RPG community, making a fully realized world accessible to others. I hope this post clarifies my stance and invites others to see AI not as a threat but as an evolving part of a long history of innovation in art.

Exploring Accessibility and New Possibilities for All

Finally, I want to highlight an often-overlooked aspect of AI art: accessibility. For me, accessibility means having the time and resources to create the imagery I envision for Sayarii—a project I couldn’t complete to this degree while balancing my responsibilities as a parent and full-time professional. But this argument extends even further. AI tools have the potential to empower those who have been historically limited in their ability to render images—no matter how rich their imaginations—due to physical limitations. Whether it’s individuals with conditions like multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, or other disabilities that restrict physical movement, AI offers them a new way to bring their visions to life. For many, the journey of creating art is not a question of creativity but one of physical capability, and AI can serve as a means to make art more inclusive, offering the gift of image-making to anyone with a vision to share, and I think this has enormous potential value to those individuals - as well as the rest of us.