If you’re a graphic designer, chances are you’ve dabbled in AI tools or at least heard the buzz from coworkers, friends, and family. But, should designers worry about losing their jobs to robots, or should they welcome their new helping hand with open arms?

The Risk

Let’s be real… we’re all a little bit intimidated by AI. No one wants to be replaced by a robot. It’s only natural for designers to worry about their careers changing, or worse, their livelihoods dissolving altogether.

Some designers fear that the graphic design space will leave them behind, requiring skills and expertise with code and functions unbeknownst to classic designers.

Others raise concerns about the ethics of using artificial intelligence in design. Who really owns AI-generated images? How do we know AI isn’t accidentally plagiarizing work from artists who go uncompensated and unrecognized for their talents? The truth is, these questions haven’t been answered yet, muddying the waters when AI meets graphic design.

Beyond the plagiarism issue, designs may begin to look similar over time. With AI inputting data from all corners of the internet and spitting out a product, designs could become more predictable, and agencies could be hard to distinguish between.

The Bright Side

The good news is that AI isn’t just a threat; It brings tools and resources with it. In fact, if used strategically, AI can prove itself not just useful but advantageous.

It seems that as clients’ efficiency expectations increase, their budgets are decreasing, leaving graphic design agencies with less time and less access to funds and resources. This is where AI comes in. Instead of replacing graphic designers, AI can quickly handle the more repetitive and tedious tasks, freeing up designers to focus on creative concepts, designs, and ideas. Not so bad, right?

Project managers get a little piece of the pie too, with AI introducing features like auto-note-taking, automated status updates, and smart scheduling.

When it comes to the actual design, AI’s superpower is its customization capabilities, as the software specializes in taking in your preferences and producing more tailored products. When you eliminate the interpretation barrier between clients and agencies, AI can offer clients multiple versions of a concept without the time and effort required for human editing.

So… Friend, Enemy, or Frenemy?

There is no concrete answer to whether or not AI ultimately benefits or harms the graphic design industry. But, if we look at AI’s rise as a “humans plus machines” partnership instead of a “humans versus machines” dilemma, AI quickly becomes a little less scary. As long as it’s used as a helpful tool, not a replacement for the human touch, AI could be graphic design agencies’ new not-so-secret weapon.