TLDR: Portland’s iconic Powell’s Books has faced significant public backlash and criticism from its employees’ union, ILWU Local 5, after releasing new merchandise featuring designs created with AI-assisted tools. The controversy highlights concerns about artistic integrity, fair labor practices, and the role of AI in creative industries, especially for a bookstore known for celebrating human creativity. Powell’s has since stated the designs were by a local artist using Adobe AI features and pledged future collaborations with local talent.
Portland, Oregon’s beloved independent bookstore, Powell’s Books, has found itself embroiled in a public controversy following the release of new merchandise designs that critics allege were created using ‘AI slop.’ The incident, which came to light around September 7-9, 2025, has sparked a heated debate among customers, local artists, and employees regarding the ethical implications of using artificial intelligence in creative endeavors.
The controversy ignited when Portland artist Sam Pletcher publicly accused Powell’s of using AI art in their new merchandise collection via a scathing Instagram post. Pletcher highlighted the irony of a city ‘CHOCK FULL of artists, most of whom are underemployed or working paycheck to paycheck’ being overlooked by a major local institution. An image of a wolf design with ‘creepy toes’ was cited as a prime example of the ‘AI slop’ in question.
The worker-owned bookstore ‘Always Here’ further amplified the criticism, issuing a Substack statement that called the use of AI ‘an insult to life, to the human capacity for creating art, and to the writers that Powell’s ostensibly exists to celebrate.’ They argued that ‘a bookstore resorting to the use of AI reflects a rot at the core of the organization.’
Adding a critical layer to the backlash, ILWU Local 5, the union representing Powell’s booksellers, revealed that employees had been raising concerns about the potential use of AI art in merchandise designs for several months prior to the public outcry. These warnings, according to the union, were largely ignored by management. This pattern of alleged employee censorship and concerns over sub-par wages has been cataloged by ILWU Local 5 in a dedicated database over the past two years.
In response to the mounting criticism, Powell’s Books issued a statement clarifying that the designs were indeed crafted by a local artist who utilized Adobe software, which includes AI-assisted features, to ‘enhance the creative process.’ The bookstore emphasized that these tools were used as aids, not replacements, for human artistry. Looking ahead, Powell’s announced plans to collaborate with local artists for upcoming holiday and spring apparel collections, inviting interested individuals to contribute new designs.
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However, the union expressed disappointment that it took significant public pressure to elicit a meaningful response from Powell’s leadership. They reiterated the call for Powell’s to be more receptive to employee feedback and to take a ‘decisive and public position on generative AI and its place in an independent bookstore,’ stressing that the company’s business thrives on human creativity and must protect this core value. The incident underscores the growing tension between technological innovation and the preservation of human artistic integrity within industries traditionally rooted in creative expression.
