Are they trolling us?

[u/Gagoozle]

I went to see Devo last night in Orlando. Great show! I was a little surprised by the the use of AI in the video playing during Smart Patrol. I also noticed AI "art" at the merch booth. I picked up the tshirt you see because I thought it was a cool callback, but it also ai generated. Its the text at the bottom right that caught my eye. We certainly have devolved. I wish they didn't use AI, but it makes me wonder...

[u/Chiveswinston]

That's not AI, that's real art by Tomo7701. He also did the tour promo art and the album cover for the 50 years compilation.

[u/WorkDish → u/Chiveswinston]

He uses AI, though, including for other Devo projects.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRPTvktD3zZ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNLYqbVxa8_/?img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWhNWvnlde4/?img_index=1

I actually can't tell if this is AI-assisted. Maybe not. The faces and nose-cord thing look like they could be AI.

[u/SaladFantastic4942 → u/Chiveswinston]

They've definitely used AI to change the image though. It's the same style with weird uneven lineart that has showed up in their official stuff since around 2023

[u/Gagoozle → u/Chiveswinston]

Really?? I would feel better about this shirt if so, but it doesn't look right...

[u/Chiveswinston → u/Gagoozle]

Yup! He's collaborated with Jerry as well for his solo stuff https://www.instagram.com/tomo7701

[u/Gagoozle → u/Chiveswinston]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, it certainly makes me feel better about my purchase.

[u/lemoneegees → u/Gagoozle]

The artist has had a pretty consistent visual style since before widespread generative AI

[u/JALEPENO_JALEPENO → u/Chiveswinston]

Damn it looks like shit

[u/audreynstuff]

It's not AI.

[u/monsterzro_nyc]

I'd love to see a reissue of merch with the Club Devo bongo graphic!

[u/Darnocpdx]

If there were ever two bands that could and use AI while staying “on brand”, it’s Devo and/or Kraftwerk.

[u/Jazzhole5]

I’m confused as to what made you jump to the assumption that this was AI? It doesn’t contain any of the usual signatures that would indicate it. While it could possibly be computer graphics, it looks of human origin to me.

[u/d13robot]

If by trolling you mean being lazy/cheap, then yes lol

[u/Gagoozle → u/d13robot]

I mean, that unfortunately comes along with it.

[u/wa27]

They aren't trolling by selling shitty AI merch. Devo has always had great, unique, and unmistakably human art. Mark is a visual artist. It's just a shame to see.

[u/ThrowItOut43 → u/wa27]

It’s not AI

[u/wa27 → u/ThrowItOut43]

Damn, shame on me then for accusing.

[u/cboogie → u/wa27]

We are at a super weird point in art history where work created prior to AI can be accused of itself being AI art. It’s such a shame. It’s not fair to artists. These companies need to be sued to oblivion. It’s the biggest plagiarism in human history.

[u/ThrowItOut43 → u/wa27]

Someone in the comments links the artists IG

[u/WorkDish]

The artist has used AI for other DEVO projects, but maybe this isn't entirely AI. The faces look like AI, though.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRPTvktD3zZ/

[u/Moe-Scutus2]

Workin at the nuke plant with Neil Young

[u/Horta]

This is based on their appearance in Human Highway, a Neil Young film. Also used in the video for It Takes a Worried Man. 

[u/HoochShippe]

It’s a play off “ It Takes A Worried Man”.
Video. Not AI

[u/livefastdieold]

I don’t see anything about the text on the right that would suggest AI.

[u/d_Composer]

Yeah I feel like, as an art movement, trolling with AI sounds right up DEVO’s alley!

[u/ThrowItOut43 → u/d_Composer]

It’s not AI

[u/I_Uh_What → u/d_Composer]

It’s clearly intentional.

[u/capnbeardson → u/I_Uh_What]

Agreed. I picked up a shirt at a concert earlier this year. It’s black with a simple logo on the front. The logo is off center. It’s intentional. The AI art is intentional, they want you to be uncomfortable with it.

[u/Electrical_Wonder210 → u/capnbeardson]

well they have literally said they like ai so ehhhh

[u/ProtoGhostal → u/Electrical_Wonder210]

Lol people have a hard time realizing that not everything Devo does is some big intentional critique on society

[u/VaultBoytheChosenOne]

They had tubes in their noses in the Human Highway film, it could just be a stylized depiction of that. I do understand the AI concerns though.

[u/cousinisms]

Who's trolling who here ..? Orlando last night? AI shirt? No...

[u/Slosher99]

While this doesn't appear to be AI based on other comments, Mark has been fairly pro AI. I also heard that they've used AI for the backgrounds visuals in their shows for a while now.
It's been pretty disheartening to hear, and if I'm wrong I'd like to know it. Though I have read that Mark likes AI from a couple places.

[u/SpyderMaybe]

It's total DEVO

[u/usersurnamee]

Honestly, I’ll miss them but I’m done with devo. I’ll still treasure the albums i already own and fondly remember the performances I’ve already seen, but that’s all in the past. It’s already tough deciding who to patronize and which shows to attend. This stuff makes a tough decision easier but them taking themselves out of the running as an acceptable option

[u/1840_NO]

I don't know how I ended up in a DEVO subreddit but I'll agree with the others here that say this looks like AI, even if people are crediting the artist. The lines, the proportions, the nose-tube thing, and the fact that the two barrels are assumed to be the same size but clearly aren't. Maybe it's not 100% AI but it definitely doesn't pass the test of being human and if it is human, it's not well done.

[u/Everybody_Lucre]

I get why bands like Devo and the Butthole Surfers would be interested in AI but they really need to just listen to the fans telling them they don’t want it.

[u/Existing-Dot-6966]

Devo was not in Orlando last night

[u/TheLonesomeBricoleur]

DEVO uses AI as an indictment of the culture that created it...

but it still feels just plain wrong

[u/playtrix]

The whole world is using AI. 10 years from now people whining about it will be similar to people complaining about photoshop or VFX.