We Are Better Than This was formed by five children’s book illustrators and authors that came together in an effort to stand up to Big Tech and the rise and proliferation of generative AI across the cultural landscape.
Join them for a screening of their viral film (animated by Oh Studio) followed by a panel talk where they will discuss how generative AI is affecting the creative industries and what they think we should be doing about it. They invite you to bring your own voice, stories and questions to the discussion.
Among the topics to be discussed in this panel are also how to best protect young creatives, the environmental costs of AI technology, government’s widespread adoption of AI and if indeed it is inevitable.
Our moderator Helen Piercy will welcome We Are Better Than This’ Benji Davies, Simona Ciraolo and Ged Adamson.
Simona Ciraolo is an author and illustrator of picture books. She studied 2D Animation at the Nation Film School, in Italy, then moved to the UK. In 2014 she gained a master’s degree in Children’s Book Illustration in Cambridge. Now she lives in London. Simona began a campaign for artists’ rights when the government launch its Consultation on AI and Copyright in 2024 and she is a co-founder of the collective We Are Better Than This.
Benji Davies is an award-winning picture book writer and artist whose books are read in over forty languages around the world. In a previous life he was a director of animated films, music videos and commercials. He is a co-founder of We Are Better Than This, believing we must put both humanity and the environment first when developing new technology. He lives in Walthamstow, London with his wife and daughter.
Ged Adamson is an illustrator & author of children’s books. Before this he worked as a music composer – mainly in the advertising world. He’s been involved in various creative jobs and projects since arriving in London where he still lives. He was part of the campaign for artists’ rights when the government launched its Consultation on AI and Copyright in 2024. Ged is also a co-founder of the campaign group We Are Better Than This.
Helen Piercy is an award winning author, animator, lecturer, researcher and curator with a passion for visual storytelling and creative practice. Her films have screened at festival worldwide including Edinburgh International Film Festival, Stuttgarter Filmwinter, Encounters and Poitiers Film Festival, among others.
Her work explorers how animation can communicate complex ideas in accessible, engaging ways, connecting audiences across cultures and communities.
