Loish refutes TikTok accusation over generative AI in illustration
Kotaku says Dutch illustrator Loish was wrongly accused of using generative AI in a 2023 illustration.
According to the article, Loish responded on Instagram and pointed to process videos of the work as a rebuttal to the TikTok claim.
The piece places the accusation alongside Loish’s earlier criticism of AI systems trained on artists’ work without permission.
What happened
Kotaku writes that a TikTok user accused Loish of using generative AI for an illustration. The publication calls that accusation false and ties the case to a work that, according to the article, was made in 2023. In the source metadata provided, the article is dated 2026-10-02, while the artwork discussed is said to date back to 2023.
Loish reportedly responded to the allegation on Instagram. In that reply, she is said to have pointed to process videos on her feed showing how the piece was made. The supplied summary does not include a full transcript of the Instagram post, but it does say the artist used her own process material as evidence against the TikTok claim.
Kotaku emphasizes that Loish has long been critical of AI systems trained on artists’ work without consent. The article also notes that she teaches other artists and offers free tutorials and resources through her own digital art school. In the external context, that is supported by Loish’s own website, which offers free tutorials, brushes, step-by-steps, palettes, worksheets, and challenges through Loish’s Digital Art School.
The source information does not provide direct evidence that the TikTok accusation is true. Instead, the supplied source frames the claim as false and says the discussion centers on a 2023 artwork and Loish’s Instagram response. The available context also does not name the TikTok user or identify the specific artwork.
Timeline
2023: the artwork in question is said to have been made.
Unknown date: a TikTok user accuses Loish of using generative AI.
Unknown date: Loish responds on Instagram and points to process videos of the work.
2026-10-02: publication date of the Kotaku article in the supplied source metadata.
Unknown date: Kotaku publishes a piece describing the accusation as false.
Unknown date: Loish’s tutorials and free learning materials are mentioned in context as part of her work as a teacher and creator.
Background
Loish is the online name of Lois van Baarle, a Dutch digital artist and animator. In the supplied context, she is also described as a creator of tutorials and free learning materials through Loish’s Digital Art School. The external context points to her official site, where free resources are offered for digital artists, including video tutorials, step-by-steps, palettes, Photoshop and Procreate brushes, worksheets, and challenges.
The source information places the accusation in a broader debate over generative AI and artists’ rights. Kotaku links the case to the fact that Loish has previously spoken out against AI systems trained on artwork without permission. In the external context, that anti-AI stance is also reflected in an older Instagram post in which she says her artwork was included in datasets without her consent.
The available information also notes that Loish’s work is associated with major game and entertainment projects, including a snippet linking her to Horizon Zero Dawn. That detail comes from the external context and reinforces that she is known beyond social media as an illustrator with visible commercial credits.
The source information does not provide direct evidence that the TikTok accusation is true. Instead, the supplied source frames the claim as false and says the discussion centers on a 2023 artwork and Loish’s Instagram response. The open questions remain the same: what the exact TikTok accusation was, which specific artwork was involved, and what Loish wrote in her full Instagram reply.