Fortnite Removes Google Gemini AI Watermark from In-Game Artwork

Fortnite has updated a piece of in-game artwork after fans noticed a Google Gemini AI watermark in its original version. The music track "Meow" by Ironmouse, Sleeping Forest, and HalaCG was added to Fortnite last month, featuring the Gemini watermark in the track artwork. The watermark went largely unnoticed until last weekend when it sparked discussions on social media and Reddit.

As of this morning, the artwork has been replaced with an alternate version that does not include the Gemini watermark. However, the original watermark was present in the track list's art provided by the artists, which Epic Games incorporated into the game. This suggests that the use of Gemini AI was not Epic Games' direct fault but rather the result of the track's initial artwork.

The switch has raised questions about AI-generated artwork in Fortnite, a topic that has been contentious among fans. Some have pointed to previous examples of AI-generated art in the game, while others have noted Epic Games' experimental use of AI in character and location design. Despite this, Epic Games has avoided confirming whether any specific in-game art is AI-generated.

This recent change is seen as a positive sign that Epic Games aims to avoid displaying obvious AI elements in Fortnite. Meanwhile, Disney has denied plans to acquire Epic Games, at least for now.