While major tech players like Microsoft and OpenAI promote traditional creative processes, GitHub's new mascot animation for its AI-powered coding assistant, Copilot, has sparked a debate. Principal brand designer Cameron Foxley revealed that the Octocat cooking scene was created manually using Blender software before being made interactive with Threejs.

Many admire this commitment to craftsmanship, seeing it as a contrast to the 'AI slop' era. Yet others see irony in highlighting human creativity for an AI-driven tool. Is this a cheeky boast or a genuine nod to tradition?

The new desktop app launch is imminent, but the controversy around its mascot animation shows how deeply embedded AI is in our creative industries now. The use of 'by hand' feels both quaint and paradoxical.

For those keen on trying Copilot for themselves, sign up to the technical preview waitlist. Meanwhile, ponder this: can a Blender-created cat truly wash away the sins of AI?