{"id":51071,"topic":"ai","source":"KPLC 7 News","title":"SWLA creatives say AI is a tool, not a replacement, but local artists are feeling the pressure - KPLC 7 News","url":"https://www.kplctv.com/2026/07/31/swla-creatives-say-ai-is-tool-not-replacement-local-artists-are-feeling-pressure/","url_hash":"16d2ecda714df3bb74fc95df705b27796feec1ff","author":"","summary":"SWLA creatives say AI is a tool, not a replacement, but local artists are feeling the pressure KPLC 7 News","content":"LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - Artificial intelligence tools have made it easier than ever to create a flyer, edit a photo, or design a logo all in a matter of seconds. But some Southwest Louisiana creators say that convenience is coming at a cost to their livelihoods.\nFrom social media flyers to AI-edited photos, platforms like ChatGPT are giving everyday people and small business owners the power to generate professional-looking content for free. And in a smaller market like Southwest Louisiana where budgets are tighter, local creatives say more clients are choosing AI over them.\n‘It has its time and its place’\nLake Charles graphic designer Grant Kelly said he understands why people are drawn to AI tools, but he’s clear about their limits.\n“It is a tool, and it has its time, and it has its place, but it’s not a sole solution, end-all, be-all replacement for designers, local creatives, all that kind of stuff,” Kelly said.\nKelly said one of the biggest problems with AI-generated graphics is that they all start to look the same, pulling from the same pool of design elements and producing generic results that fail to capture a brand’s true identity.\n“AI is pulling from the same pool and spitting out the same generic graphic of a big headline, picture of this person, and description of an event, this time this day,” Kelly said. “It’s not really a true representation of the identity of those businesses.”\nFeeling the impact in a small market\nLocal photographer Aaron Young says he isn’t against AI; he uses it himself in his editing workflow. But he has seen firsthand how it is changing client expectations.\n“Clients will think, hey, I already have AI. I have this tool that I can type in a prompt that I want and it can spit it out in a few seconds,” Young said. “Whereas I have to pay hundreds of dollars for somebody to come in and then I have to wait a few weeks for the photos to come in and for the graphics.”\nYoung, who also serves as marketing and development manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana, said the pressure is felt more in smaller markets like SWLA than in larger cities where clients have bigger budgets and are more willing to invest in professional creative work.\n‘Don’t be afraid to reach out’\nDespite the growing use of AI, Young encourages Southwest Louisiana residents and businesses to support local creators and says most are more accessible than people think.\n“I know a lot of the creatives in the area are always willing to help because they do it because it’s a passion of theirs,” Young said. “So don’t be afraid to reach out and be like, hey, I need help, or hey, I need you to come in and help me. I have a camera, or I have a phone, can you teach me how to do it?”\nBoth Young and Kelly say they even offer bartering options for businesses that may not have the budget for professional creative services, trading photography or design work for meals, memberships, merchandise, or other goods.\nThe human touch AI can’t replicate\nBoth men say they expect AI to keep growing, but they believe the human touch behind local creative work is something no algorithm can replace.\nKelly’s message to small businesses in Southwest Louisiana is simple: support a local creative the same way you’d want someone to support your business.\n“Supporting a local creative, whether that’s a student or somebody that’s seasoned and professional, you’re supporting them and their career and their passion just like you’d want somebody else to support you in your business,” Kelly said.\nCopyright 2026 KPLC. All rights reserved.","image_url":"https://gray-kplc-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/G5MAHXOZT5HTRG3VUC7WRE5Y7Q.jpg?auth=5b1d9675f431eb27216b50487fd7e6987c227e0d97aa457748a5e48de72b3694&width=1200&height=600&smart=true","lang":"en","published_at":"2026-07-31T22:46:00+00:00","fetched_at":"2026-08-01T03:15:05+00:00","status":"read","starred":0,"extract_state":"ok","summary_auto":"(KPLC) - Artificial intelligence tools have made it easier than ever to create a flyer, edit a photo, or design a logo all in a matter of seconds. 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(KPLC) - Artificial intelligence tools have made it easier than ever to create a flyer, edit a photo, or design a logo all in a matter of seconds. But some Southwest Louisiana creators say that convenience is coming at a cost to their livelihoods.\nFrom social media flyers to AI-edited photos, platforms like ChatGPT are giving everyday people and small business owners the power to generate professional-looking content for free. And in a smaller market like Southwest Louisiana where budgets are tighter, local creatives say more clients are choosing AI over them.\n‘It has its time and its place’\nLake Charles graphic designer Grant Kelly said he understands why people are drawn to AI tools, but he’s clear about their limits.\n“It is a tool, and it has its time, and it has its place, but it’s not a sole solution, end-all, be-all replacement for designers, local creatives, all that kind of stuff,” Kelly said.\nKelly said one of the biggest problems with AI-generated graphics is that they all start to look the same, pulling from the same pool of design elements and producing generic results that fail to capture a brand’s true identity.\n“AI is pulling from the same pool and spitting out the same generic graphic of a big headline, picture of this person, and description of an event, this time this day,” Kelly said. “It’s not really a true representation of the identity of those businesses.”\nFeeling the impact in a small market\nLocal photographer Aaron Young says he isn’t against AI; he uses it himself in his editing workflow. But he has seen firsthand how it is changing client expectations.\n“Clients will think, hey, I already have AI. I have this tool that I can type in a prompt that I want and it can spit it out in a few seconds,” Young said. “Whereas I have to pay hundreds of dollars for somebody to come in and then I have to wait a few weeks for the photos to come in and for the graphics.”\nYoung, who also serves as marketing and development manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana, said the pressure is felt more in smaller markets like SWLA than in larger cities where clients have bigger budgets and are more willing to invest in professional creative work.\n‘Don’t be afraid to reach out’\nDespite the growing use of AI, Young encourages Southwest Louisiana residents and businesses to support local creators and says most are more accessible than people think.\n“I know a lot of the creatives in the area are always willing to help because they do it because it’s a passion of theirs,” Young said. “So don’t be afraid to reach out and be like, hey, I need help, or hey, I need you to come in and help me. I have a camera, or I have a phone, can you teach me how to do it?”\nBoth Young and Kelly say they even offer bartering options for businesses that may not have the budget for professional creative services, trading photography or design work for meals, memberships, merchandise, or other goods.\nThe human touch AI can’t replicate\nBoth men say they expect AI to keep growing, but they believe the human touch behind local creative work is something no algorithm can replace.\nKelly’s message to small businesses in Southwest Louisiana is simple: support a local creative the same way you’d want someone to support your business.\n“Supporting a local creative, whether that’s a student or somebody that’s seasoned and professional, you’re supporting them and their career and their passion just like you’d want somebody else to support you in your business,” Kelly said.\nCopyright 2026 KPLC. 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But he has seen firsthand how it is changing client expectations.\n“Clients will think, hey, I already have AI. I have this tool that I can type in a prompt that I want and it can spit it out in a few seconds,” Young said. “Whereas I have to pay hundreds of dollars for somebody to come in and then I have to wait a few weeks for the photos to come in and for the graphics.”\nYoung, who also serves as marketing and development manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana, said the pressure is felt more in smaller markets like SWLA than in larger cities where clients have bigger budgets and are more willing to invest in professional creative work.\n‘Don’t be afraid to reach out’\nDespite the growing use of AI, Young encourages Southwest Louisiana residents and businesses to support local creators and says most are more accessible than people think.\n“I know a lot of the creatives in the area are always willing to help because they do it because it’s a passion of theirs,” Young said. “So don’t be afraid to reach out and be like, hey, I need help, or hey, I need you to come in and help me. I have a camera, or I have a phone, can you teach me how to do it?”\nBoth Young and Kelly say they even offer bartering options for businesses that may not have the budget for professional creative services, trading photography or design work for meals, memberships, merchandise, or other goods.\nThe human touch AI can’t replicate\nBoth men say they expect AI to keep growing, but they believe the human touch behind local creative work is something no algorithm can replace.\nKelly’s message to small businesses in Southwest Louisiana is simple: support a local creative the same way you’d want someone to support your business.\n“Supporting a local creative, whether that’s a student or somebody that’s seasoned and professional, you’re supporting them and their career and their passion just like you’d want somebody else to support you in your business,” Kelly said.\nCopyright 2026 KPLC. 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And in a smaller market like Southwest Louisiana where budgets are tighter, local creatives say more clients are choosing AI over them.\n‘It has its time and its place’\nLake Charles graphic designer Grant Kelly said he understands why people are drawn to AI tools, but he’s clear about their limits.\n“It is a tool, and it has its time, and it has its place, but it’s not a sole solution, end-all, be-all replacement for designers, local creatives, all that kind of stuff,” Kelly said.\nKelly said one of the biggest problems with AI-generated graphics is that they all start to look the same, pulling from the same pool of design elements and producing generic results that fail to capture a brand’s true identity.\n“AI is pulling from the same pool and spitting out the same generic graphic of a big headline, picture of this person, and description of an event, this time this day,” Kelly said. “It’s not really a true representation of the identity of those businesses.”\nFeeling the impact in a small market\nLocal photographer Aaron Young says he isn’t against AI; he uses it himself in his editing workflow. But he has seen firsthand how it is changing client expectations.\n“Clients will think, hey, I already have AI. I have this tool that I can type in a prompt that I want and it can spit it out in a few seconds,” Young said. “Whereas I have to pay hundreds of dollars for somebody to come in and then I have to wait a few weeks for the photos to come in and for the graphics.”\nYoung, who also serves as marketing and development manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana, said the pressure is felt more in smaller markets like SWLA than in larger cities where clients have bigger budgets and are more willing to invest in professional creative work.\n‘Don’t be afraid to reach out’\nDespite the growing use of AI, Young encourages Southwest Louisiana residents and businesses to support local creators and says most are more accessible than people think.\n“I know a lot of the creatives in the area are always willing to help because they do it because it’s a passion of theirs,” Young said. “So don’t be afraid to reach out and be like, hey, I need help, or hey, I need you to come in and help me. I have a camera, or I have a phone, can you teach me how to do it?”\nBoth Young and Kelly say they even offer bartering options for businesses that may not have the budget for professional creative services, trading photography or design work for meals, memberships, merchandise, or other goods.\nThe human touch AI can’t replicate\nBoth men say they expect AI to keep growing, but they believe the human touch behind local creative work is something no algorithm can replace.\nKelly’s message to small businesses in Southwest Louisiana is simple: support a local creative the same way you’d want someone to support your business.\n“Supporting a local creative, whether that’s a student or somebody that’s seasoned and professional, you’re supporting them and their career and their passion just like you’d want somebody else to support you in your business,” Kelly said.\nCopyright 2026 KPLC. 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