Artisan AI Startup Accused of Stealing Art from 'This is Fine' Creator

May 4, 2026

KC Green, creator of the iconic 'This is Fine' meme that first appeared in his 2013 webcomic 'Gunshow,' publicly accused AI startup Artisan of stealing his artwork for a subway advertisement featuring the dog character saying 'my pipeline is on fire' alongside a message to 'Hire Ava the AI BDR.' Green characterized the unauthorized use as theft mirroring how AI steals creative work, encouraged followers to vandalize the ads, and said he would seek legal representation despite preferring to focus on creating comics. Artisan, led by CEO Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, previously courted controversy with 'Stop hiring humans' billboards and responded by expressing respect for Green's work and scheduling direct communication. The incident echoes cartoonist Matt Furie's lawsuit against Infowars over Pepe the Frog, which eventually settled, highlighting ongoing tensions between AI companies and artists over intellectual property rights.

Unauthorized Use of 'This is Fine' Comic in Artisan AI Advertisement

▪KC Green said Artisan's advertisement has been stolen like AI steals.
▪The 'This is Fine' comic has become one of the most durable memes of the past decade.
▪KC Green created the 'This is Fine' comic featuring an anthropomorphic dog sitting smiling surrounded by flames.
▪An Artisan advertisement in a subway station featured KC Green's art with the dog saying 'my pipeline is on fire' and a message urging passersby to 'Hire Ava the AI BDR.'
▪Artisan AI startup incorporated KC Green's 'This is Fine' comic art into an advertisement campaign.
▪The 'This is Fine' comic first appeared in KC Green's webcomic 'Gunshow' in 2013.
▪KC Green said Artisan's use of his art was not anything he agreed to.

Artist's Response and Legal Considerations

▪KC Green said taking time out of his life to try his hand at the American court system takes the wind out of his sails.
▪KC Green said he would rather put time back into what he is passionate about, which is drawing comics and stories.
▪KC Green told followers to vandalize Artisan's advertisement if and when they see it.
▪Matt Furie and Infowars eventually settled their lawsuit over the use of Pepe the Frog.
▪KC Green said he will be looking into legal representation because he feels he has to.
▪Cartoonist Matt Furie sued right-wing conspiracy theory site Infowars for using his character Pepe the Frog in a poster.

Artisan's History of Controversial Marketing and Company Response

▪Artisan said the company had scheduled time to speak with KC Green.
▪Jaspar Carmichael-Jack is the founder and CEO of Artisan.
▪Jaspar Carmichael-Jack insisted that Artisan's 'Stop hiring humans' message was about a category of work, not humans at large.
▪Artisan said the company has a lot of respect for KC Green and his work and is reaching out to him directly.
▪Artisan has courted controversy with its ads before, specifically with billboards urging businesses to 'Stop hiring humans.'

Perspective of Artists and creators

▪The Artisan controversy exemplifies growing tensions between AI companies and artists over unauthorized use of copyrighted creative works.
▪Cartoonist Matt Furie's successful lawsuit settlement with Infowars over Pepe the Frog provides a legal precedent for meme creators protecting their intellectual property.