Yeah, it sounds to me like it's 'artificial' in the same way that orange juice made from concentrate is artificial.
There is a substantial benefit though:
The artificial blood can be stored at normal temperatures for more than a year.
That seems like a huge improvement, especially in countries or areas without as much infrastructure or disaster scenarios.
Also combat medics, CASEVAC aircraft, and field hospitals. Not requiring refrigeration is a HUGE benefit during the "Golden Hour" of casualty care.
Its not really about artificial blood but some platelet replacement based on liposomes. Take a look at the full paper.
Yeah, that was my take away from the paper, which doesn't describe the blood as artificial, just some of the components. The HN title is a little misleading, which would better read: "Modified blood that can work for all types and has a shelf life up to a year"