Short 64: Authenticity Problem

A comic in four panels

Panel 1. The gothic sorceress, Cepper, finishes a painting in front of her easel, palette in hand. She looks happy. Nearby, on a pedestal, her Avian Intelligence (AI) Cyber Parrot watches her. AI Parrot: "Shall I assist with finishing that piece?" Cepper: "Absolutely not! I love the process, and my art will stay handmade."

Panel 2. later at the exhibition, Cepper stands beside her painting, shock written across her face. In the foreground, silhouettes of anthropomorphic creatures and humans reacting to her work. Narrator: "Later, at the exhibition." Audience: "Did you purposely make it look like Avian Intelligence created it?" Audience: "It totally looks AI-generated!"

Panel 3. Cepper facepalms as she overhears the audience attempting to justify their observations. Audience: "Yeah...the yellow tint is a dead giveaway." Audience: "...and this style, I mean, c'mon!" Audience (smaller): "And the fingers!"

Panel 4. Later, in dim lighting, Cepper sits cross-legged on the floor after the exhibition. The crowd disperses in the background. She stares vacantly, chin resting on her fist, processing what just happened. Beside her, the AI Parrot look at her art. Parrot: "Did I ever tell you how much I learned my skills from your art?" Parrot: "The hundreds I made a minute ago are really in the same vein." Parrot (in small): "Love your yellows!" Cepper: "Shut up."