AI APOCALYPSE

Some time ago, my colleague Bob Bly introduced me to a publisher from Crystal Lake Publishing. He needed an image for a book cover. When I heard the concept, I knew I could do it, but I also knew I’d need to use AI to get there.

The brief was simple: an android head against a background, with wires trailing out the back.

Since I had a subscription to MidJourney, I went there, immediately. I used the prompt the publisher provided, and very quickly generated the image you see here. The moment I saw it, I knew it was right.

Still, I wanted to give the publisher options. I created several variations such as circuit boards and alternate heads, but my gut told me the first image would win.

It did.

Once they chose it, I told them it was AI. They didn’t care. They loved the image and wanted to use it.

From there, the project moved into refinement. The publisher finalized the book copy. I retouched the android head so it blended better with the background, added texture, and brought everything together with the final typography.