Whether or not you like AI at work ultimately boils down to a question of power.

As generative artificial intelligence tools continue to proliferate, pushback against the technology and its negative impacts grows stronger.

YouTube video by Zac Of All Tech

Microsoft banned 'Microslop' on its Copilot Discord, then locked the server after users flooded it with workarounds — a PR own-goal exposing deep user frustration.

The UK government risks being boxed in by AI backlash if they don’t share the benefits of the technology, according to a new IPPR study.

The UK government risks being boxed in by AI backlash if they don’t share the benefits of the technology, according to a new IPPR study.

Developer Level-5 has apologized for and explained its use of generative AI after fans spotted "AI slop" in footage of games like Professor Layton and the Curious Village, DecaPolice, and more. Concerns emerged following the studio's Nintendo Direct-style presentation earlier this week. Dubbed Level5 Vision 2026 II: Dreams, the show came with first looks at upcoming games, and it also happened to feature what fans suspected to be multiple examples of genAI. Those who tuned into the 50-minute presentation spent more time talking about what they believed was evidence of AI use rather than the games, such as the Professor Layton remake, Yo-Kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain, and DecaPolice. The footage causing a stir is mostly limited to background scenes, but it's the fact that fans had to question Level-5 in the first place that's turned the situation into a full-fledged controversy for the Japan-based studio. Oh no Level-5 is DEFINATELY using Gen AI to "update" Professor Layton. Especially when you compare the original backgrounds to the new. So many weird details and inconsistencies were added. https://t.co/AjVNfgetkk pic.twitter.com/0tRQ9vKn03— AmericanYoshi (@AmericanYoshi) September 10, 2026 ⁉️ Dans le nouveau trailer de Yo-kai Watch 2 : Haunted Domain, Nathan a… changé de visage ?! 😭#YOKAIWATCH Hier (gauche) / Aujourd’hui (droite) pic.twitter.com/Vr3rzwNPA7— Yo-net Watch (@YonetWatch) September 10, 2026 "I was SO excited when Level-5 announced their big comeback with Professor Layton, Decapolice, Yo-Kai Watch, and more," one fan on X/Twitter said. "But seeing this much blatant genAI being used across their games… yeah, this ain’t it" "You were a beautiful studio," another fan said. "Now you are nothing more than a disappointment to us. We don’t want this AI s**t." Level-5 president and CEO Akihiro Hino, who also hosted the showcase with his own animated avatar, took to X/Twitter to calm the noise. His message was both an apology and an explanation, confirming that Level-5 did, in fact, use generative AI for some aspects of development. Hino described Level-5's heavy use of AI as "experimentation with the latest technology," adding that the team "sincerely apologizes to anyone who found this off-putting." I was excited about Decapolice but Level-5 AI use is disgusting to me. I can't support that. https://t.co/EpxgBtCnDo— Kabi (@KabiPlays) September 10, 2026 "However, please be assured that all elements defining the appeal and individuality of our released titles— such as the scenario, character designs, and foundational settings — are created entirely by human hands," Hino said (via Google translate). "We utilize AI primarily to streamline the process of digitizing human-created assets; for instance, accurately converting original artwork into 3D polygon models. You can rest assured that the games we release do not contain content simply generated by AI." Hino also defended how Level-5 has used AI so far, saying: "the time saved through AI-driven efficiencies has allowed our creators to dedicate more of their efforts to the true essence of creativity." For him and the rest of the team, the belief is that the finished versions of games like Professor Layton and the Curious Village will still please fans in the end. Part of the reason it leaned so heavily on genAI this time around was so it could shrink "the development cycle for major titles from the current five years down to two." "That said, we cannot deny that we made extensive use of AI this time, driven by a desire to deliver a presentation that was visually striking and easy to grasp," he continued. "We will take this experience as a learning opportunity for the future, so please look forward to Level-5’s next presentation." pic.twitter.com/cict4COGTP— ⬡ Nectur Bee ⬢ (@NecturBee) September 12, 2026 It's an explanation that hasn't gone over well in the Level-5 community. Replies to the post include fans still concerned about generative technology being used during development at all, fearing that affected games will be forever tarnished. "Generative AI is trained on the stolen works of countless artists by tech companies to profit off their work, with the intent of replacing artists," one popular reply said. "By using it you replaced artists. You're profiting off of the skill of artists whose work has been stolen to power this software." "I believe the human heart matters more than speed to market; surely it is better to take five years without using AI," another post written in Japanese said (via Google Translate). "If even a single asset is created using AI, the nagging worry — 'Is this image, piece of music, or line of dialogue made by AI or a human?' — would never go away. Isn't preserving that trust the most important thing?" Hino didn't offer a specific game plan when it comes to how Level-5 will tweak its development plans going forward. For now, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, a remake of the original 2007 game, is slated to come to PC and consoles in 2027. Another new game in the series, the New World of Steam, is due out this December.

A former White House staffer, Mike Dubke, faced backlash after a video clip of a lifelong Republican voter expressed frustration with the GOP's handling of data centers and artificial intelligence. The voter, Tom Weeks from Texas, criticized the party for neglecting his concerns, stating he would prefer to vote for Democrats over supporting Republican candidates. The incident highlights growing bipartisan anger over data center policies and AI regulations, which have become contentious issues. Dubke, who was initially caught off guard by the voter's comments, attempted to defend the GOP's achievements, such as tax cuts and benefits for families, but acknowledged the need to address the voter's grievances. The conversation underscores the challenges Republicans face in maintaining their base amid shifting public sentiment and the impact of high-profile issues like data centers on electoral strategies. The incident also reflects broader tensions within the party as it navigates the complexities of modern political discourse and voter expectations.

요즘 테크 업계를 향한 시선이 심상치 않습니다. 단순히 새로운 기술에 대한 거부감이 아니라, AI와 빅테크를 향한 반감이 감시, 데이터 센터, 정치적 이슈와 엮이면서 이전과는 다른 양상을 보이고 있는데요. The Verge의 Decoder 팟캐스트에서 다룬 AI 백래시 이야기를

Platforms are finally recognizing that people don’t want to consume AI slop. A growing number of sites and apps now have tools and policies to flag, label, and ban AI-generated content.

Only 26% of Americans view AI positively, and Utah's ouster of Senate leader Stuart Adams over a data center deal suggests the anger is now costing jobs.