Makoto Yukimura, author of Vinland Saga, has drawn attention for comments related to AI. ComicBook described the incident as an "unnecessary AI controversy." According to existing reports, the incident began when Yukimura saw a fan-made illustration of Thorfinn, the protagonist of Vinland Saga, on social media and praised it for "perfectly capturing the character's essence and soul." A netizen then reminded him that the image was AI-generated.
After learning the truth, Makoto Yukimura's response was interpreted by some fans as an endorsement of AI art. He wrote at the time: "Wow, really? The AI did a great job. AIs are fed on other artists' works, and if this continues, we'll be in trouble. And that's exactly the problem: it's too good, in a way. This is reality, not an opinion." This statement sparked controversy, with some readers believing he was defending AI-generated content.
Yukimura later clarified his stance on X. He stated: "AI steals art, and I would be troubled if AI development goes too far. We are troubled because AI does a decent job to some extent. This is just a fact, not an affirmation." He made it clear that pointing out AI's ability to produce results is not equivalent to supporting its use.