Moleskine launched a Lord of the Rings notebook collection using AI-generated promotional art, buried the disclosure, then quietly removed it.
Key Takeaways
The “Imagined by Moleskine, generated by AI” disclaimer appeared on only three banner images, not on individual product pages where purchase decisions happen.
AI-generated maps in promotional material contained nonsensical Middle-earth place names like “Der Rarmorth” and “Narmimtz”, with one map posted to Instagram carrying no AI disclaimer at all.
Moleskine’s Instagram-only response claimed designers made the covers and AI enhanced only backgrounds – but no designer credits, no proof of human artwork, and no apology were provided.
By April 25, Moleskine silently removed all AI disclaimers from their website while leaving the AI-generated images live, making disclosure less transparent after the controversy.
The $175 three-book set sold out despite the backlash; Moleskine has not confirmed whether cover designs themselves are fully human-made.
Hacker News Comment Review
Commenters split on whether the actual notebook covers are AI: the more defensible read is that only marketing/promotional backgrounds used AI generation, not the physical product artwork sold to buyers.
The false-advertising angle around the map – showing geography and text that don’t exist in Middle-earth, used in ads for a product that may not contain that map – drew sharper criticism than the AI-art question itself.
One commenter argued AI art use is a non-issue analogous to adopting any new production tool; others drew the line at deception rather than the technology itself, suggesting the real grievance is transparency, not generation method.
Notable Comments
@wccrawford: frames the map shown in ads but absent from the product as outright false advertising, distinct from the AI art debate.
@numlocked: points out the most parsimonious reading – AI disclaimers appear only on marketing shots, making cover-design AI use unconfirmed rather than established.
