ChatGPT and other AI services are basically killing @Iconfactory and I'm not exaggerating or being hyperbolical.

First Twitter/Elon killed our main app revenue that kept the lights on around here, then generative AI exploded to land a final blow to design revenue.

Tapestry's Kickstarter was a bit of a hail mary, but people aren't subscribing in great enough numbers to replace Twitterrific revenue and that combined with the sudden free-falling design revenue might just be the end of us.

I know nothing I say is going to get anyone to stop using ChatGPT and generating a new app icon in 5 minutes for the app that you also had ChatGPT write for you in a few hours, but I'm not sure what the rest of us are supposed to do about making enough money to, ya know, live.

I think perhaps because @Iconfactory design is quite good people have this impression that we're sitting here on a pile of money or something and some huge powerhouse - nope. We've been barely making it since Elon/Twitter. There's only 6 of us and there's no war chest.

@bigzaphod @Iconfactory I don’t know what to say except that several years ago I paid Iconfactory to design an icon for my app and, while it felt expensive at the time, the design process was great and I was incredibly happy with the result. Money well spent.

I’ve been a huge Iconfactory fan since the 90s. I hope to remain so for a long time to come.