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Brett Bower Launches AI Caricature Bots

Published: July 22, 2026 1 minute 9 comments

Aussie caricature artist Brett Bower announced he’s launching AI ‘caricature bots’ in Sydney Australia, and San Diego, CA. These mechanical arms use AI to draw a caricature in front of individuals on cruise ships, attending corporate events, or special events.

Caricature Bots working
Caricature Bots working

This technology isn’t new. Bot staff take a photo of an audience member which is loaded into the bot. The technical arms then draw an image based on AI. There are at least two other competitors in this space based on a cursory search by TDC. The two we found are AI SketchBot and Caricature Bot. By comparing the promo photos from both AI SketchBot and Brett’s machines it appears the hardware maybe the same. Brett did not answer TDC’s question about whether his operations were affiliated to AI Sketchbot.

Brett, who has been drawing caricatures for over 40 years, says that the bots do not replace live-action caricature artists. Live artists are great for a “live environment, such as theme parks, markets and festivals,” he says. These bots are best for corporate and private events. He says it’s often difficult to find artists to work corporate events that are paid a flat rate instead of more lucrative live events. He says, “the bots don’t come with the staffing and management issues,” and “they’re an AI novelty that happens to draw a pretty good caricature. It’s a different experience from sitting with a live artist, and I think there’s room for both.”

They’re an AI novelty that happens to draw a pretty good caricature.

Brett Bower

When asked if he viewed these as a precursor to replacing live artists, he says no. “I understand why AI makes people nervous. It’s changing a lot of industries. But I honestly don’t think these bots are going to replace professional caricature artists.” He explains that live artists are great at adding personality and humor to the drawing. “The bots are just a different kind of entertainment,” he says. “They’re an AI experience that creates a good caricature, and I think they’ll appeal to a different audience. I believe there’s room for both.”

He says audiences see the bots as “something new, fun and entertaining, and they enjoy watching them draw.”

Whether it’s a bot or other type of kiosk, MAD Magazine cartoonist and long-time operator of caricature operations in multiple states, Tom Richmond says, “There have been ‘portrait drawing’ kiosks like photobooths for years in tourist centers and shopping malls. This is the same thing with more gears and hydraulics. Real artists still produce superior work and provide a superior experience.” He adds acerbically, “get back to me when robots can joke with the models and the crowd, make on-the-spot observations and comments, and more importantly create a drawing that doesn’t look like it was done by a six year old with an Etch-a-sketch.”

Brett is bullish on the bots for the corporate events. “A.I. is here like it or not, no point sticking your head in the sand.” As for live-driving engagements, “good artists who are willing to work will always find work,” Brett says confidently.   

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Comments 9

  1. It’s funny-not-funny that it is artists who always seem to be at the forefront of using new tech to replace artists.

  2. Hey Ted, Little one armed robots are hardly going to replace professional artists. They are a novelty. There is nothing wrong with experimenting or innovating. The level of criticism I’ve received comes with the territory I guess.

    1. Not replace, yet, but it siphons off work for emerging or semi-retired artists who’ll work for peanuts for exposure or side money. It’s not a novelty so much as an opening wedge for replacement. Automobiles were a novelty for rich people. Few believed they’d replace the horse.

    2. No criticism of you here, but the drawings are lame. A decent portrait is something to admire, a caricature is refrigerator decoration. Make ’em do that.

    3. Funny. Wonder how you’d feel if it wasn’t YOU benefitting from these one armed bots? You might look at it differently.

  3. Generative AI is mass copyright theft. Its only purpose is to replace the work of people.

    Arguments have been made for decades that clip art, stock photography, syndication, etc, didn’t take away any work from creatives because the people who bought the work wouldn’t have hired an artist anyway. Ultimately, it devalues artists by dehumanizing them and introducing ridiculously low costs that are uncompetitive.

    Cartooning as a viable profession is on the verge of extinction. It’s clear that cartoonists are never gonna be able to organize together, but I like seeing efforts to reinvigorate comics and increase opportunities for cartoonists, like A Kid and a Comic, or Alterna Comics.

    That’s my view, anyway.

  4. Those seem barely AI, (and many are barely caricatures, at that).

    Looks like photos run through a filter that would have been available ages ago in Photoshop

  5. I couldn’t help but notice that most of the images that pop up periodically throughout the video are not those done by the robots. They’re still AI, but not that particular AI, and marginally better (awful, but slightly less awful).

    There’s a long tradition of bad caricaturists trying to pass off better artists’ work as their samples, and it’s a sorry state of affairs when that’s even being done within the AI robot community – maybe they have achieved true sentience after all.

  6. Hi gang,

    Thanks for all the comments, they’re all appreciated.

    Just to clarify, every drawing in the video was created by the AI that drives the bots. What’s interesting is that the bots only use a fine liner pen and draw the key outlines of the caricature. They don’t shade or cross hatch, or add the subtle details that a skilled artist would.

    The AI images often show varying line widths and richer detail, but the actual pen drawing is much simpler. The results are good, less so for people with dark hair. In my opinion, this technology still has a way to go before it becomes a replacement for Tom Richmond. Your jobs are safe.

    That said, AI is a major disruption, and I understand the concerns. I’ve made my living as an artist my entire life. I hear what your’s saying

    Here’s my business perspective. For most of my career as a caricature artist in Sydney, I’ve subcontracted other artists to help with events. Unfortunately, that comes with challenges. Artists don’t always show up on time, some hand out their own business cards to my clients, and occasionally there have been professionalism issues. In one case, I even received legal threats after a subcontracted artist behaved inappropriately towards a guest.

    Why do I love the bots?

    They show up on time. They don’t pitch my clients. They don’t hit on guests. They don’t call in sick last minute. They simply do the job they’re designed to do.

    For me, they’re not replacing great artists. They’re solving some very real business problems while creating a fun experience that guests genuinely enjoy. Always happy to chat. regards Brett

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