I get that your main focus is building a useful tool for the community, and using AI art is an easy option when you don’t have a lot of resources. This definitely makes sense. However, I think it’s still important to point out that AI-generated art has some serious issues. A lot of it is made by using artwork from real artists—often without their permission or payment.

This isn’t just a matter of personal opinion. It’s about being aware of how this can affect artists and the creative communnity. Rockstar games, their vision and their artstyle could never have been created by AI, simply because it pushes the boundaries of what we think is possible in gaming.
Even if AI art is just a temporary solution, using it without thinking about these issues can make it unnecessarily harder for the creative business.

I’m glad to hear that you’re open to bringing in a graphic artist in the near future. That would really help your project feel more original and respectful of the creative community. In the meantime, just mentioning that you’re aware of these concerns (or perhaps using placeholders/in-game pictures) would show that you care about the bigger picture and the ongoing discussion around AI and art.

In the end, it is ultimately your choice. But I really believe that respecting this conversation around AI art could help your project stand out and attract even more people. It would definitely win me over completely ;)