I’ve been following the discussions here about AI-generated playing cards and wondered if it might be time to revisit. A lot of things have changed in the last year: AI tools are getting better and AI is finding its way more and more subtly (and pervasively) into software like Photoshop and Illustrator. Still, the obvious concerns about low-effort content, originality, disclosure, and the economics of creative work, remain.

I have a background in cultural history and this kind of thing has played out before — with some differences, of course. But photography was once dismissed because “the camera did the work.” Chromolithography was criticized because it mechanically reproduced paintings in vivid colour, making beautiful images available cheaply and at scale. Even digital painting and Photoshop were sidelined by some as less authentic than traditional media.

The problem now seems to be that the line between what is AI and what isn’t AI seems to be blurring. Sure, an artist can eschew all digital technologies to guarantee a purely human generated project. But what about an artist who uses some of the AI features in Photoshop — background generation, for instance? And where exactly does computer ‘processing’ end and ‘AI’ begin (for example, Concept to Vector in Illustrator)?

That makes me wonder whether we might not be thinking in categories that are becoming less useful. Or at least less demarcated. There seems to be a huge difference between someone typing a prompt and posting the first result, and someone who spends months directing, rejecting, revising, compositing, repainting, correcting, and refining images until they become something that AI could never produce all but itself. At what point does the creative judgement outweigh the tool?

I don’t have answers. But I’m no longer sure I’d completely rule out buying or using a deck that had been created with some AI involvement. And, as these models continuously improve, it is getting harder and harder to tell anyway. I’m genuinely curious where (and how) people draw the line these days.

Rider Waite Playing Card Deck (2021) by US Games Systems

National Parks Playing Cards

Fulton is selling these. There is a ks project of the same name/theme that has been on prelaunch for years now. I wonder if Fulton got the idea from the ks. I believe the IP has been public domaine since 2024.

Hi everyone ! My name is Bruce Le Nevé, I designed a deck in 2024 on kickstarter named Golden Legacy. I really liked designing playing cards, and this year, I mustered up my courage and decided that I was going to commit 100% to this adventure and keep making more games. This one is the first in a long series, and I hope you’ll join me on this journey and enjoy my work !

Here's the link to the pre-launch page of the Dusk Council kickstarter.

You can also follow me on my instagram to see every cards of this deck and know sooner about upcoming projects !

I found these at an estate sale for super cheap. I was amazed when I opened the box to see one deck still completely sealed with an absolutely pristine tax stamp. Just wanted to show them off.