Envision this, you enter a room with two people in front of you. One holding a pencil and the other typing in codes but they are both creating artwork, would you consider an artist? The distinction between traditional and digital art has become increasingly blurred with the next generation of "iPad kids" and "Phone addicts." Thanks to technical improvements, and the convenience of it, there has been a tremendous blare in digital art. People have gone from one careless flick of the hand ruining their artwork to one simple click fixing all kinds of errors. However, some artists have chosen to go one step further to commune AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms to generate the artwork for them.
What is AI-generated art?
Defining AI-generated art as art generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) has caused serious disputes within the art industry. The process includes artists creating algorithms to "learn" a particular style by examining hundreds of photographs rather than following a set of rules. The greatest difference between AI-generated art and manual art is the "assistance of artificial intelligence." However, the word ‘assistance’ can be argued.
Many artists seem to be against the use of AI-generated art- as it is unfair for those who worked long and tirelessly to produce artwork manually, only to be replaced by a machine which is able to do the same thing but, in more detail. People whose liveliness depends on their artistic skills can potentially lose jobs, especially within an industry that is already difficult to succeed in. If you want to succeed, you must offer something extraordinary and unique to the market, while competing with half a billion people who share your ideology. Indeed, they too are striving to be discovered and yearn to make a decent living for their hard work. Traditional artists typically dedicate hours on end to meticulously create and perfect their final product i.e. art pieces and look forward to fair offers from their customers.
It is common for countless artists to cling to low-paying jobs in order to survive while pursuing their dreams of becoming successful artists. AI coming into the industry could further deprive these artists of the reward for their hard work and dedication. Forcing these artists to abandon their dreams and move on to different fields of work because they have been replaced.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a machine that lacks emotions. Art, by definition, is an expression of human creative skills or imagination. How could an inanimate object produce something that is meant to be a personification of the human experience and emotions? AI-generated art can be seen as something that lacks humanity - hence, something I believe is very important in the creation of art is human emotions. Art is meant to be transcendental and is created to convey a powerful emotional message, which AI cannot do, despite our attempts to make it seem like it can.
All things considered, if we view AI-generated art as merely a tool for brainstorming or rough drafting, according to a few artist friends of mine, I assume many artists in the industry would consider it fair. AI can help with conceptual art. If an artist wants to try something new online before on paper, or if their art skills are limited, AI can help. This allows for the quicker and more solid creation of artwork. Anyone can create art with AI. With anyone simply creating art, this makes the barriers to being an artist less constricted. The advancement of AI in the industry has the potential to change our perception of what art is limited by. AI art serves the same purpose as ‘normal’ art, to move and inspire people, even though it is done on a computer, doesn’t the creator feel and express their emotions in their artwork? Isn’t this just another way of human expression?
I believe people shouldn’t be punished for using AI tools to produce their artwork. However, this was exactly what happened in the United States when a fellow artist, Jason Allen, received backlash when he won first place in an art competition which included the usual; painting, sculpting or quilting. It was one of the first A.I.-generated pieces to win a prize in the fair's contest for emerging digital artists, sparking a fierce backlash from artists who accused him of, essentially, cheating. I agree some artists have the right to be mad as AI is completely new to the competition and wasn’t very well-known. But nevertheless, we must consider the situation from both perspectives. As the artist did upload it in the correct category of digital arts and was straightforward about using AI.
It’s impact on the art industry
With AI-generated art having expanded access to more potential artists, more unique and open-minded ideas and artwork enter the industry. This is exactly what art is, constantly changing and never stagnant. The art industry should be able to adapt to the changes in this world, specifically with technological advancements such as AI becoming more persistent in everything we do. Of course, it would come with benefits and drawbacks - but either way, it is an opportunity to evolve. This opens up opportunities for artists who work with AI and those who do not. People's tastes in art would still vary, so many artists who prefer manual art could still make a comfortable living as art is highly subjective. Since making a permanent statement about art is impossible, which art do you prefer? Is AI-generated art satisfactory for you?
