AI Impact: 22% of Japanese Creators Report Income Decline

Nikkei Survey of 300 Creators Including Illustrators
Top Reason for Income Decline: Reduction in Corporate Orders

Due to the rapid spread of generative artificial intelligence (AI), more than one in five visual content creators in Japan, such as illustrators and designers, are experiencing a decline in income.

On May 18, the Nihon Keizai (Nikkei) Shimbun reported the results of a survey conducted jointly with the Freelance Association during March and April, targeting approximately 300 creators including webtoon and illustration artists. According to the survey, 22% of respondents said that "their income has decreased in the past year due to generative AI." This figure is more than twice as high as the rate of those who answered "their income has increased" (9%). Among those whose income has decreased, 20% reported that their sales had "been cut in half or more." Respondents who said "there was no change in income" accounted for 49%.

The photo is for illustrative purposes only and is not related to any specific content. Pixabay

As for the causes of income decline (multiple answers allowed), the most common response was that "clients such as companies have reduced orders by replacing work with AI" (40%). This was followed by "competitors' use of AI" (24%). One illustrator in their 40s commented, "A task that would take a person four hours can be completed by AI in less than one-tenth of the time," and added, "Companies have started to replace the production of generic icons or simple designs with AI."

There was also considerable anxiety about livelihoods and the future. Forty-nine percent of respondents predicted that "their income will decrease further within the next three years," and 6% of the total said they had decided to stop creative work altogether or were considering closing down their operations.

On the other hand, as concerns over copyright infringement and unauthorized AI training grow, there has also been an increase in cases (24%) where clients require creators to "prove that AI was not used." As a result, there are calls in Japan for urgent legal and social measures to protect the rights and creative environment of freelance creators.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.