‘It’s Okay’ Creator: “AI Startup Stole His Work”

You’ve probably seen this cartoon before. An anthropomorphic dog sits smiling and saying, “It’s okay,” surrounded by flames.

It has become one of the most enduring memes of the past decade, and now AI startup Artisan appears to have incorporated it into its advertising campaign. The ad said KC Green, the artist who created the cartoon, said his art had been stolen.

The Bluesky post appears to show a subway station ad featuring Green’s artwork, except the dog says “(my)y pipeline is on fire” and an overlaid message urges passers-by to “Hire AI BDR Ava.”

Citing the post, Green said, “More and more people are telling me about this, and that’s not something (I) agree with.” Instead, he said the ad was “stolen like AI is stolen” and urged followers to “damage it if you see it.”

When TechCrunch emailed Artisan asking about the ad, the company said, “We have great respect for KC Green and his work and are reaching out to him directly.” In a follow-up email, the company said a time had been scheduled to speak with him.

Artisan has previously caused controversy with its advertisements. In particular, there was a billboard urging companies to “Stop Hiring Humans.” But founder and CEO Jaspar Carmichael-Jack insisted the message was about “categories of work” and not “humans in general”.

“This Is Okay” first appeared in Green’s webcomic “Gunshow” in 2013, and while he doesn’t completely deny the dog melting with laughter (he recently turned the cartoon into a game), it’s clearly out of his control. Of course, Green isn’t the only artist who has seen his memetic artwork used in ways he finds offensive.

However, some artists still took action when their artwork was monetized or used in a commercial manner without permission. For example, cartoonist Matt Furie sued right-wing conspiracy theory site Infowars for using his character Pepe the Frog on a poster. (Furie and Infowars eventually agreed.)

“I will explore (legal) representation as I deem necessary,” Green told TechCrunch in an email. Despite this, he said, “I should be taking time out of my life to deal with the American court system instead of investing my time in drawing comics and stories, which I am passionate about.”

Green added, “These mindless AI losers are not untouchable and memes don’t come out of thin air.”