I used a hybrid workflow with the images: the initial figure done by hand, then AI to get a reference for some nice details like trees and fingers (I suck at those), then manual lineart, interior sketches, and texturing. So it was used in the process, but you don't see any of the generated output. Itch policy, IIUC, is to flag such things as using AI anyways.
The walk phases are totally hand drawn, though. I failed miserably when trying to get what I want out of AI there :D
Viewing post in Mountain Walks jam comments
What you described made me think me about how Photoshop uses AI in the back-end of a lot of its functions - like to fill in gaps in backgrounds or removing objects. I think the workflow you described, or something similar, is going to be the norm very soon (if not already).
In any case, I appreciate sharing the insight and the end result speaks for itself. My small critique of the walking phases is really only because I found the description so evocative compared to the images.