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Drawing the Machine: 15 Editorial Cartoons on AI

By CM Chaney · May 26, 2026

Artificial intelligence stopped being a science-fiction problem somewhere in the last eighteen months. Editorial cartoonists noticed. This slideshow walks fifteen cartoons about AI, drawn between May 2025 and May 2026, and asks what cartoonists see when they look at the machine. AI is the new editorial-cartoon stock subject — and the cartoonists are still figuring […]

Graduate Turns to ChatGPT for a Smart-Sounding Speech

The cartoon depicts a young man in graduation attire holding a smartphone displaying a ChatGPT prompt requesting a graduation speech written at a 12th-grade level that will make him sound real smart. The scene is set against a simple blue background with the speech bubble clearly visible above the device.  Cagle Cartoons

Cartoon Shows People Asking ChatGPT How to Think for Themselves

The image depicts two people with smartphones in an outdoor setting with grass and a large tree. A speech bubble shows the question to ChatGPT about thinking independently. The yellow banner states the scene occurs in the very near future. The cartoon uses simple lines and colors with the artist signature visible at lower right.  Cagle Cartoons

Graduation Day Meets AI Job Disruption in Darkow Cartoon

The cartoon depicts a graduation setting with an older figure presenting a diploma to one graduate and another graduate holding a small device with mouth open. Multiple mortarboards are visible at the bottom. Text reads WHAT DO YOU MEAN AI JUST TOOK MY JOB?! Artist signature appears in upper left.  Cagle Cartoons

AI Robot Faces Stressed Worker in Office Desk Scene

The image shows a man seated at a desk covered with stacked papers and a laptop, appearing overwhelmed while writing. A robot marked A.I. stands to the right with one arm extended. Two speech bubbles contain text about job competition and human limitations. A red coffee mug sits on the desk.  Cagle Cartoons

Cartoon depicts scientists flanking large AI robot with soul insertion question

The image shows a large central robot labeled AI with two men in white coats positioned on either side. The man on the right gestures toward the robot while a speech bubble reads YEAH BUT WHERE DO YOU INSERT THE SOUL. The robot has round eyes and mechanical limbs. Text AI appears on the robot chest.  Cagle Cartoons

Robot Marked AI Contains Operator at Controls

The image displays a tall white robot labeled AI on the forehead standing against a solid green background. A man wearing a blue shirt and red tie sits inside an open chest compartment smiling while using controls on a brown tray with a blue surface and scattered yellow dots.  Cagle Cartoons

Peter Kuper Shows AI Leash Snapping in Four-Panel Warning

Four-panel sequence by Peter Kuper depicts an older man in a rust-colored jacket and blue jeans walking a spotted dog on a red leash. The leash snaps, the dog shifts into a skeletal robot form covered in binary code, and the final panel shows the robot lunging at the man with red impact marks near his face.  Cagle Cartoons

Office Workers React to AI Response in Englehart Cartoon

The cartoon depicts a man in a suit seated before a computer monitor with a large speech bubble containing text about an AI response. A woman in business attire stands to the right holding a folder. Papers and folders lie on the desk. The scene includes a keyboard, monitor cables, and a signature in the lower right corner.  Cagle Cartoons

DeepSeek logo appears on screen as ChatGPT shirt reacts

Visible elements include a man wearing a green shirt with chatgpt logo, an orange cap with america again text, a computer monitor showing deepseek and a blue whale, a speech bubble with knockoff made-in-china ai text, server racks, an american flag, and a framed picture on the desk.  Cagle Cartoons

Data center machine walks across cracked ground with AI display

Visible cartoon depicts a walking data center structure with multiple colored server lights on side. The unit shows AI repeated on front panel. Eyes and mouth are drawn on the front. A speech bubble contains the word Thirssst. The machine stands on dry cracked soil near a path leading to grass and a large leafy tree.  Cagle Cartoons

Drone Mulls Kill Decision in Artificial Intelligence Cartoon

The image presents a drone in flight above a seated figure on a rock. A speech bubble from the drone reads to kill or not to kill. The label artificial intelligence appears at the bottom. The drone features four rotors and a central body. The figure sits with hand on chin in a thinking pose. Clear sky occupies the top portion of the frame.  Cagle Cartoons

Chappatte cartoon shows soldier with AI helmet and brain removal

The image depicts a soldier in green fatigues gripping a large rifle with both hands. His head is open at the top. An AI-labeled helmet with circuit details hangs from above on the left. A pink brain is suspended by a mechanical claw on the right. The background is solid green with motion lines near the hanging objects.  Cagle Cartoons

Preventable Outbreaks cartoon shows child and Uncle Sam figures

Split image under Preventable Outbreaks sign shows left a boy covered in measles spots wearing gown and right an older figure in star hat with multiple words on face holding phone with spots on hands.  Cagle Cartoons

Robots Process Human Layoffs at Unemployment Office

The cartoon shows an unemployment office with robots behind the counter and humans in line. A robot asks about the reason for dismissal. Tags include robot, human, unemployment, line, papers, counter, office, dismissal.  Cagle Cartoons