AI-looking art – A viral “AI-looking” gag in Devil Wears Prada 2 was painted by a human artist, reigniting debate about AI art assumptions.
A fashion-world sequel is turning into an internet art lesson: the “AI-looking” artwork in The Devil Wears Prada 2 has been confirmed as the work of a human artist, not a machine.
In the long-awaited follow-up to the 2006 classic, Meryl Streep returns as Miranda Priestly as the character faces a PR crisis.. During the film. an image shows Priestly in a way that many viewers first assumed was AI-generated. especially in an online environment where synthetic visuals are increasingly common.
That assumption quickly met a direct response from Misryoum: digital artist Alexis Franklin shared that she created the artwork at the request of director David Frankel, posting the piece alongside a timelapse of her process.
Misryoum notes that the timing mattered. As the gag circulated, screenshots and reactions spread fast, with some audiences praising the studio for choosing human craft while others highlighted how easy it is for people to mistake certain visual effects for AI.
The wider conversation then intensified as Franklin’s posts gained traction, with many commenters saying they felt relieved the gag was made by a real artist. Their reactions reflected a broader appetite for “real art,” and an argument that movies can address AI themes without relying on AI imagery.
Where the story takes an even more interesting turn is how Franklin later explained the mismatch between appearance and intent.. She said she was not asked to mimic AI. and that any similarities people believed they saw were coincidental and tied to the impressionistic look of the background elements.
Misryoum also points out that the incident raises a practical question for the creative economy: when audiences default to assuming human-made work is synthetic. it can create confusion and harm for artists trying to be credited fairly.. Even when the fear is understandable, the response shows how fast suspicion can travel in the digital age.
By the end of the viral wave. Franklin’s message landed on a simple theme: people want to recognize authentic effort. and the industry consequences of mistaken assumptions are real.. For studios and creators alike. the takeaway may be less about AI replacing artists and more about how audiences interpret visual style in a world where AI is everywhere.