The integration of AI tools like MidJourney and DALL-E 3 into the creation of book covers has sparked concerns about the impact on professional artists’ careers. Many worry that AI-generated artwork will replace the need for human artists, potentially endangering the livelihoods of creatives who already face significant challenges in the market.

From my personal experience in book cover design, these fears may be exaggerated. Let me explain how using AI tools compares to traditional methods using two of my recent projects: the covers for “The Surgeon’s Genie” and “Freyja $AI”.

“The Surgeon’s Genie”: For this cover, we sourced an image from a stock website at approximately $20. My cover artist invested considerable time exploring various stock image databases and compiling a selection for review. We experimented with multiple images, tweaking and adjusting until settling on the final design. The chosen orb image was then enhanced using tools like Photoshop to finalize shading, layout, font, and color schemes.

“Freyja $AI”: In contrast, this cover involved generating images using AI platforms MidJourney and DALL-E 3. We entered numerous prompts to produce over a hundred iterations but struggled with controlling the outcomes to fit my brand. The selected image required further adjustments in Photoshop to align with our vision. Subsequent steps mirrored those of the first cover—fine-tuning text layout, font choice, and color.

Interestingly, the cost and effort involved in both processes were identical. The use of MidJourney for “Freyja $AI” did not reduce the expenses, nor did it diminish the role of the cover artist. Instead, it shifted how the base image was sourced—through AI generation rather than selection from a stock library.

The key takeaway is that AI tools did not replace the artist; they merely changed part of the artist’s toolkit. In both scenarios, the creative input and skills of the artist were indispensable, particularly in refining the AI-generated image to meet specific aesthetic standards.

The question arises: Does the use of AI in creating stock images truly threaten artists, or does it simply push them into new forms of creativity? Just as Photoshop revolutionized graphic design, requiring artists to acquire new skills, AI tools like MidJourney and DALL-E 3 are just new tools that can be harnessed for innovative artistic expression.

To my fellow creatives—we still need you. AI tools can’t replace you, but they are powerful new tools in your arsenal. Embracing and mastering them will be crucial to staying competitive in your profession.