I fear AI will stifle children's creativity

Gruffalo illustrator in art felt tech plea

- Mark Jefferies

ILLUSTRATOR Axel Scheffler fears that artificial intelligence will stop children from using their imagination and developing artistic skills.

Youngsters have traditionally found joy in using paints and pencils but now they can also generate images and words by pressing a few keys on computers or phones.

Axel who has illustrated many books for young readers such as The Gruffalo, Zog and The Highway Rat - is worried this will stifle creativity.

He said: "AI is a worrying development. I am all for kids drawing with pencils and paints and we need to protect this from AI.

"It is a worrying development and I do not know what the future will bring. But I would always defend people creating, rather than having something artificial." Asked if technology was likely to affect his career, he admitted: "I am ignoring that whole AI thing and maybe I am naive and stupid.