If you’ve spent any time on thePenWarrior, you’ll probably have noticed that I love a good visual. Sometimes it’s a photograph, sometimes an illustration, and increasingly, some of those images have been created with the help of artificial intelligence.
I think it’s important to be open about that, particularly as someone who writes about representation, ethics and the ways technology shapes our lives.
Anyone who has spent hours searching stock photography websites will understand the frustration of knowing exactly what you want to communicate and struggling to find an image that comes anywhere close. For me, that frustration often has another layer.
Try finding a photograph of a Black woman that captures a very particular emotion, experience or everyday moment without falling into the same familiar representations. There are plenty of smiling women in corporate offices, women looking confidently into cameras, and the occasional image of someone looking suitably distressed when the subject calls for something serious.
Of course, there are photographers and image libraries doing excellent work to broaden representation. I’ve seen that progress, and I welcome it. There are still significant gaps, though, particularly when you’re looking for something specific.
I write about people, power, identity, injustice, relationships, joy and all the complicated things that make us human. I want the visuals accompanying those conversations to have some of that same range and complexity.
Sometimes I can find exactly what I need. Other times, I have an image in my head that simply doesn’t exist in the libraries available to me.
AI image generation has given me another way to explore those ideas. I can experiment with compositions, create illustrations and develop visual concepts that feel closer to what I’m trying to express. There is often a fair amount of trial, error, frustration and editing involved. Anyone who has tried convincing an AI image generator to produce a perfectly ordinary pair of hands will know exactly what I mean!
I enjoy the creative possibilities it offers, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. I’m also aware of the concerns surrounding the technology. Questions around how AI models are trained, the use of artists’ work, consent, environmental costs and the biases built into these systems deserve serious attention. I’ve written about some of these issues, and I expect I’ll continue to explore them as the technology develops and our understanding of its consequences grows.
I’m comfortable using AI as part of my creative process, but that doesn’t prevent me from being critical of the technology or engaging with the conversations surrounding its development.
The writing, ideas and editorial direction behind thePenWarrior are my own, and that extends to the visual identity I’ve developed for the platform. I use a combination of AI-generated photography, AI-generated sketches and traditional graphic design to create the visuals that accompany my work. Over time, I’ve developed a particular style that I want to maintain across thePenWarrior. That consistency matters to me, and it’s something I simply couldn’t achieve by relying on stock photography.
AI gives me the flexibility to explore different subjects, settings and perspectives while maintaining a recognisable visual style. It also allows me to be more deliberate about representation, particularly when creating images of people and experiences that are often overlooked or portrayed narrowly in traditional image libraries.
There are other practical considerations too. I frequently write about public figures, current affairs and sensitive social issues. Creating my own illustrative imagery reduces my reliance on copyrighted photographs and the permissions or licensing arrangements that may come with using them. It also gives me greater freedom to explore the ideas behind a story without having to rely on a literal photograph of the person or event being discussed.
Protecting people’s identities is equally important, particularly when writing about personal experiences or sensitive subjects. AI-generated imagery allows me to illustrate situations and emotions without using photographs that could identify the people involved. I can create a visual that helps readers connect with a story while respecting the privacy of those whose experiences may have informed it.
The AI-generated photographs and sketches you see on thePenWarrior are creative illustrations. They should not be mistaken for documentary photographs of real people or events. I’m particularly mindful of that distinction when discussing public figures or circumstances where an image could be misinterpreted as evidence of something that actually happened.
I’m also aware that AI-generated images can reproduce many of the same stereotypes and biases that have long frustrated me about stock photography. Having greater creative control means paying attention to those details and being willing to question the results, even when an image looks exactly how I imagined it.
I’m comfortable with my decision to use AI as part of my creative process, and I make no secret of it. That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped asking questions about the technology, its development or its wider implications. I think those conversations are important, and I intend to remain part of them.
I value the work of photographers, illustrators, designers and other creatives, and I look forward to collaborating with more of them as thePenWarrior grows. I also appreciate having access to tools that allow me to experiment, develop ideas and create independently.
I’ll continue to learn, explore and make considered choices about the imagery I publish. For now, I wanted to explain why the images you see here have been created using AI, and share a little of the thinking behind those choices. If I’m going to spend so much time asking questions about how the world works, it seems only reasonable to keep asking questions about my own choices too.
If you’re interested in how I use AI in my professional writing practice, I’ve also shared my approach on my Writing Services page.
