Artist KC Green confirmed a quick settlement with AI startup Artisan after the company used his “This is fine” dog and flames in bus and subway ads promoting its AI assistant Ava.
KC Green didn’t just notice the ads—he felt them.
The creator of the “This is fine” meme said his work was used by AI startup Artisan to market its assistant Ava. with bus and subway ads showing Green’s recognizable dog surrounded by recognizable flames. Instead of the meme’s familiar line. the ads read “My pipeline is on fire. ” and urged viewers to “Hire Ava the AI BDR.”.
Green’s frustration spilled into public posts earlier this month. He wrote that his art had been “stolen like AI steals. ” and told his followers to “vandalize” the ads if they saw them. He also said he was frustrated about having to “try my hand at the American court system” instead of spending that time on his comics.
Artisan responded with its own posture. The startup told him it has “a lot of respect for Green and his work.” Then, earlier this week, founder and CEO Jaspar Carmichael-Jack said the two sides had come to an agreement.
When reached for comment, Green confirmed that the settlement came fast, saying he’d “reached a settlement pretty quick.” He added that Artisan agreed to take down the ads in New York and San Francisco that used his character, and that Green would remove his initial post.
The back-and-forth turned on a simple clash: Green’s most recognizable image was being used to sell a product. and the words on the ads—replacing “This is fine” with a jab at “My pipeline”—made it feel less like homage and more like appropriation. By the time the ads came down in New York and San Francisco. the dispute had shifted from public pressure to something closer to a cease-and-correct.
KC Green This is fine Artisan AI assistant Ava meme dispute ads cybersecurity and digital rights artist settlement