‘They’re supposed to be handmade’: Zine creators struggle to resist AI’s influence

TThe self-published zine has long played a central role in cultural revolutions, from queer activism to black feminism to the riot grrrl punk movement, and has spawned titles like Sniffin’ Glue and Sweet-Thang along the way. But now the traditionally analog art form is facing a new transformation: artificial intelligence.

AI may seem incompatible with those iconic DIY brochures, but some creatives, designers and artists have begun experimenting with the technology, causing concern in parts of the underground publishing world. It was her moment where Dylan becomes electrifying.

“AI is robbing many people of the ability to think critically for themselves,” says Rachel Goldfinger, a Philadelphia-based video editor and illustrator who has published an anti-AI zine.

“Of all the art forms I participate in, zines are, in my opinion, the ones for which the use of AI makes the least sense…”