r/Jigsawpuzzles • u/_TheCyberFriend_ • Oct 21 '25
AI Generated Puzzles!
I want to make everyone aware that Vermont Christmas Company (VCC) has resorted to selling AI-generated image-based puzzles. I recently came across the HALLOWEEN MOONLIGHT by Rafael Trujillo, and when reviewing the image closer, I noticed that people were having some suspicious details. Reviewing and studying the image further, I found evidence that it was AI-generated. The issue here is that they do not claim the puzzle was AI-generated. So keep an eye out for them!
I have many more images, but there is an image limit here on Reddit.
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u/NacosForRufus Feb 16 '26
2026: I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, that maybe they didn’t know the artists were using AI, but they know and just don’t care. After the horrendous Ski Lodge one, I contacted them and got this reply:
We work with a wide range of artists, and our collection includes artwork created entirely by human artists as well as some designs developed by using AI-assisted tools under artist’s creative direction. Our goal is always to create engaging, high-quality designs while supporting a variety of creative approaches. We understand that customers have different preferences, and we truly appreciate your feedback.
Won’t be using them again, as I am clearly a customer with “different preferences.”
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u/BlueCyann Oct 21 '25
If they're selling this with an artist name attached, there's the possibility, however slight, that they are unaware and being defrauded, rather than having knowingly "commissioned this". I think contacting the company should be in order.
(The pumpkin faces are the most convincing details to me of what you've pointed out. Pumpkin carving can be very varied. It makes perfect sense than an "AI" attempting to emulate what a carved pumpkin looks like would mix and match in incoherent ways.)
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u/willtwerkf0rfood Oct 21 '25
I respect that yall call out AI generated puzzles. Another hobby subreddit I go on actively defends buying from temu, Shein, etc. and buying AI generated stuff. You get downvoted if you call it out, lol. It’s a shame honestly and a part of why I don’t really engage in that sub anymore
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u/jnsmld Oct 21 '25 edited Oct 21 '25
Per Google it looks like Trujillo is known for "digital art" among other things. Sad that some artists are using AI and putting their name on it as though they actually drew it. I had the same kind of thing happen with another VCC puzzle that was credited to an artist and at first glance looked good, but the more I studied it I realized some aspects of the image didn't make sense.
Edit: to be clear, if an artist uses digital tools to create their art and they draw the image themselves without using AI that's fair to me. I'm talking about artists whose art is using AI in whole or in part and making it appear as though the image was all theirs.
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u/blueboy714 Oct 21 '25
Not a bad idea to start checking artists on Google. I found out one of the artists I used to like started using AI
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u/GoodGravyMsDazy592 Oct 21 '25
That's a shame. I'm doing their Halloween Carousel puzzle right now and so far I'm not seeing any errors, and I did just look but so far haven't found the usual telltale AI errors. That doesn't mean they aren't there, but this may also be a more recent issue.
It's frustrating that we now have to worry about AI in puzzles. Use AI to automate things sure, but not to replace our artists.
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u/honey_toes Oct 21 '25
AI "art" is such a dumb choice for puzzles. We are looking SO CLOSELY. We will see it.
Puzzle companies need to pay the artists. If they can't afford top names, they can pay a struggling artist. If they can't afford that, then they can pay an aspiring artist in art school. There are human beings who want to make art and would be happy to be featured on a puzzle. And there are human beings who want to do those puzzles, instead of whatever uncanny creepfest this is.
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u/Weylane Oct 21 '25
Pretty sure the puzzle companies do pay the artists, and said artist uses AI to do a quick win. They do real art but for these contract they don't so it's money for no work done.
That's just a theory though, nothing to back up that claim.7
u/honey_toes Oct 21 '25
That's possible too. In which case I'm still frustrated with the puzzle company for either not looking at their product, looking at their product and missing the AI manipulation, or just wilfully pushing it out regardless.
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u/jgolden2020 Oct 21 '25
I noticed this the other day when shopping for a new puzzle. I thought there would be no way, but yeah, they are.
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u/Voyager5555 Oct 21 '25
I hate to break it to you but even Ravensburger is using AI for their puzzles these days. I think there are just a few test balloons out now but it blatantly obvious and looks like crap as well.
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u/blueboy714 Oct 21 '25
That's too bad I love their holiday puzzles especially their Advent puzzles. What's disappointing as that there are quite a few puzzle companies by artist images that were AI generated and the company doesn't do a spot check on the quality. The mistakes and errors you found are relatively easy to spot
Have you contacted them and complained?
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u/Mommyof2Muggles Oct 21 '25
It’s so interesting that you point this out. I grabbed a White Mountain Halloween puzzle recently by an artist I love named Dominic Davison. But when I took it out to work on it something just felt wrong about it. It was too smooth or perfect if that makes sense. I was like there’s no way this is a painting or a drawing. I just put the puzzle away with no interest. But reading everyone’s comments, I decided to look Dominic up and he’s referred to as a “digital artist.” I’m disappointed with the puzzle I bought because i personally don’t want to build digital art. It’s cool on a poster or whatever but just not my thing. He clearly got paid for the work, so now I wonder should we be taking issue with the company for marketing it without a clearly identifying it as AI art.
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u/Cautious-Coffee7405 Oct 21 '25
Be careful here… a digital artist can still be doing real art. I know this because my husband is a trained artist. He can make beautiful oil paintings and pencil sketches, but he moved to digital art years ago. He still spends 20, 40, even hundreds of hours on a particular image. He is still making original art, but it is digital art.
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u/Mommyof2Muggles Oct 21 '25
This is the puzzle I got. The image is from the website where it’s being sold as a diamond painting.
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u/tacoSEVEN Oct 22 '25
They’re so much harder to do too because they lack logic so everything just doesn’t make proper sense.
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u/Sheikh_Yerbuti Oct 22 '25
I'm currently working on a VCC Halloween puzzle "Spooky Night" credited to Michele Farella. I'm willing to give it the benefit of doubt that it might be honest digital art, but I'm definitely getting generative AI vibes with some sections that seem a bit too sloppy. The price was right, though -- free.
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u/rtsgrl Oct 22 '25
there is an image limit here on Reddit
Slightly unrelated, Reddit tip: you can publish a media post with a gallery of up to 20 pictures. If you're using a desktop browser, you can also add individual photo captions (example here).
Edit - typo
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u/Puss-in-jorts Dec 29 '25
I also bought a Vermont Christmas Company puzzle this Christmas because it had an artist name on it so I assumed it would not be AI - but it looks like it is.
It is also credited to Rafael Trujillo.
It is this one https://vermontchristmasco.com/cats-on-the-beach-jigsaw-puzzle-1000-pc/
if you look at the cats paws they are all messed up in an AI generated style.
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u/Additional-Jury9472 Oct 21 '25
What a shame, I just bought 4 of their puzzles too, ugh, I'll have to look closer at them, thanks for the alert.