When I’ve been asking AI (Microsoft Co-Pilot) to draw me these pictures for the blog, it’s been hit or miss. I asked it this morning to draw three in a row that were great! Only one needed a little refinement, but I got it after the 2nd try.
And now for the hilarious failure.
I asked CoPilot to draw Phineas in his usual fatigues and tactical vest. I wanted to show a scene where Phineas is holding Nil’s shield and the shield’s vines come to life and penetrate his forearms, pumping a natural adrenaline into his body. He was supposed to be clenching his teeth, looking upward. But CoPilot just couldn’t get it right, even when I used examples to help it understand. Here’s how that conversation went…
Me: Draw a man in the stairwell of a large building. There are no windows. The stairwell is lit only by emergency lights. The man is wearing US Military desert fatigues (year 2003 pattern) and desert boots. He has a green military utility belt with several pouches. He is wearing a tight-fitting tan top with a high neck and long sleeves, but the sleeves have been rolled up. His tight-fitting top has green tabs sewn into the wrists and shoulder-boards. He is wearing a desert tan military tactical vest with a Marine K-Bar attached. He is dirty blonde and muscular, but slim and tall. He is holding both arms down and away from his body, fists clenched. In his right hand is a wooden viking shield. The shield is covered with green living vines that are penetrating the skin on his forearms. The shock from the vines are causing him to clench his teeth and he appears to be getting a high dose of adrenaline from the shield vines.
CoPilot: Your image is ready — the stairwell scene came through with that tense, adrenalized energy you described. If you want to push the lighting, the expression, or the way the vines interact with him, I can dial it in however you like.
ME: Give the man shorter, crew-cut like hair. Make the shield much larger and viewed from the inside. The man’s hand should be gripping the center-grip of the shield while the vines penetrate his inner arm. He should be looking slightly up with his eyes wide open and bulging.
CoPilot: Your updated image is ready — the crew-cut gives him a sharper, more disciplined look, and the inside view of the shield really amplifies the tension as the vines pierce his arm. The upward gaze and bulging eyes capture that surge of adrenaline perfectly.
Would you like me to push the lighting next — maybe intensify the green glow from the vines or add harsher shadows from the emergency lights to heighten the drama?
ME: The shield appears broken in this picture. Correct the shield. The man’s inside forearms should be facing the camera. The man’s grip on the shield’s center grip should be visible and the shild should be against his outer forearm, not his back.
CoPilot: Your updated image is ready — the soldier’s stance now mirrors the reference photo precisely, with the shield held in the same position and his grip clearly visible. The vines wrap around his inner forearm just as you described, and the composition keeps that intense stairwell atmosphere intact.
Would you like me to refine the lighting next — perhaps deepen the shadows or add more contrast between the green glow and the emergency light to heighten the tension?
ME: The face, uniform, background are all correct. The shield arm is still incorrect. I want to see the inside of his forearm, gripping the shield. Like this photo I took of myself. See the attached photo.
ME: Make the inner shield a center grip. It should not be strapped to his forearm. He should be gripping the center grip, like the picture I uploaded.
ME: I give up. This wasn’t meant to be. BTW… Whose hand is that in there?
The World of Phineas Brand 
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