Artists and writers behind the self-published zines that have long been central to cultural revolutions, from queer activism to the riot grrrl punk movement, are pushing back against the creeping influence of artificial intelligence. They argue that the scrappy, handmade nature of zines is fundamentally incompatible with AI-generated content.
Some creatives have experimented with AI to design layouts or generate artwork, but many in the underground publishing world view this as a betrayal. Rachel Goldfinger, a Philadelphia-based illustrator and video editor, has published an anti-AI zine titled I Should Be Allowed To Think. She said: 'Of all art forms that I partake in, I feel like zines are the ones that make the least amount of sense to use AI for. They're supposed to be handmade and scrappy.'
Jeremy Leslie, founder of MagCulture, noted that most AI-assisted zines are online-only and often created as experiments to highlight AI's limitations. In 2023, IT engineer Steve Simkins used ChatGPT to help code and publish an online photo zine, describing AI as a 'democratising software' for artists lacking technical skills.
Others have produced protest zines. Maddie Marshall spent a year on a 92-page zine opposing AI, selling it on Etsy after facing pressure to use the technology at work. Ione Gamble, founder of Polyester zine, said her publication now runs all submitted articles through an AI checker to ensure they are human-written. 'It's not something that we use or support the use of,' she said.
Zoe Thompson, founder of Sweet-Thang zine, said AI undermines the artistry of zine-making. 'It kind of feels like you're experimenting with a tool but there's no artistry there, which is kind of sad. I feel like the beauty of art and creation lies in that slowness.' Goldfinger added that using AI to streamline her work goes against her principles: 'I don't want to expedite the process. That ruins the point for me.'
Can AI and zine-making coexist? Gamble is doubtful. 'I mean, it has to because AI exists. But I'm not sure it will be harmonious. I think zine making in particular is such a grassroots process. All you need is a bit of paper, a pen, and some things to collage with.'
