The AI Accusations: Are Black Ops 7's Prestige Icons Human-Made?

In the wake of the Black Ops 7 prestige icon reveal, a familiar controversy has resurfaced within the Call of Duty community: accusations of AI-generated art. As players dissect every new emblem, some are already speculating about the easiest path to acquire them, with discussions about a potential "bo7 bot lobbies service" running parallel to debates about artistic integrity. The hosts of the Detonated YouTube channel have stepped into the fray, analyzing the claims that these futuristic icons were not crafted by human hands. This skepticism mirrors the exact same discourse that surrounded the prestige icons in Black Ops 6 just a year prior, creating a cyclical pattern of doubt with each new release.

The Detonated hosts, however, come down on the side of human artistry. They firmly state, "I don't think these are AI. I really don't." Their argument hinges on the icons being "a little bit too detailed and specific and tailored" compared to other in-game assets they believe are confirmed to be AI-generated. They urge the community to differentiate between disliking an artist's chosen direction and accusing the work of being artificial. It's possible, they note, to simply not be a fan of the futuristic, sometimes "bulky" designs without defaulting to an AI narrative. The hope, they emphasize, is that real artists were fairly paid to create these original icons for a brand-new game.

The conversation then broadens to acknowledge the inevitable role of AI in future game development. The hosts realistically note that AI technology is advancing so rapidly that the ability to distinguish between human and AI art will soon vanish entirely, making this a "never-ending discussion." They suggest that with significant community feedback on core gameplay issues like persistent lobbies and matchmaking being addressed in BO7, the prestige icons have become "low-hanging fruit" for criticism. While advocating for fair pay for artists, they conclude that fixating on AI accusations is a "complete waste of time," as the technology's integration is an unstoppable force that will soon render the debate moot, shifting the focus back to where it belongs: on gameplay and substantial rewards.