{
  "id": 7751403,
  "title": "I quit my Google software engineering job and became a watercolor artist. Here’s how I’m using — and not using — AI.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/i-quit-my-google-software-engineering-job-and-became-a-watercolor",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-16T09:15:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/watercolor-artist-ex-google-software-engineer-does-doesnt-use-ai-2026-9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sara Wilczynska, a watercolor artist and Google software engineer turned art studio owner, uses AI to help her with her business while maintaining boundaries around the creation of her artwork. Wilczynska, based in San Diego, began using AI in 2023 when it became more accessible and powerful, as she started her art studio after leaving her job at Google. She uses AI for proofreading and editing newsletters, creating custom-trained GPTs for feedback and filtering art opportunities, and generating reference photos for client projects. However, she firmly believes that AI should not replace her role as an artist, as she only uses AI for business tasks and rejects its use in any aspect of the actual artwork creation process.",
  "summary": "Artist Sara Wilczynska, who previously was a software engineer at Google, reflects on the strict boundaries she has for AI usage in her work.",
  "key_points": [
    "Sara Wilczynska quits Google job to become watercolor artist",
    "Uses AI for business tasks, not artwork creation",
    "Started art studio in 2023 after leaving Google"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}