ChatGPT and the Chinese Government Agree, a Classic Nude is ‘Obscene’
Both Say ‘The Birth of Venus’ by Botticelli is ‘Inappropriate’
Recently, I wrote an article about a book containing the classic painting ‘The Birth of Venus’ by Botticelli being censored as ‘obscene’ in China. To accompany the story, I tried to get ChatGPT to produce a version of the picture to illustrate censorship. It refused outright. It censored me. I had the same problem with Claude AI and Mage AI (Mage might have done it if I upgraded to premium).
The idea was simple: to generate an image that would serve as a visual accompaniment to an article on censorship. The picture in question was classical and iconic — Botticelli’s masterpiece that has stood the test of time as a symbol of beauty and artistic freedom.
What seemed like a straightforward picture of totalitarianism’s stupidity suddenly took on a new turn. Was this the nature of our new AI overlords? The AI, programmed to adhere to strict content guidelines, denied this request, citing its adherence to policies ensuring content appropriateness for diverse audiences. It stated that other ‘cultural backgrounds and sensitivities’ might be offended. (China’s?)
‘These policies are in place to ensure that content is appropriate for a wide audience, including users from different cultures and backgrounds with varying sensitivities.’
It seemed ironic that a story that started out to be an example of non-democratic inflexibility became one also about how AI could be as bad. It wasn’t a big problem for me. I was able to easily get something from the Web. But what does that say about a future where we may be totally dependent on these programs? Will a future AI deny me access to news or research I want because it’s ‘inappropriate’?
What if I didn’t have other options? I tried to argue with the program, but even as it acknowledged the irony of the situation, it steadfastly refused. This encounter with AI censorship is reflective of a broader issue in our digital age. As AI technology becomes increasingly integrated into our creative processes, it brings with it a set of pre-programmed ethical and cultural standards. These standards, while intended to protect and respect a wide range of users, also impose severe and arbitrary, maybe puritanical, or political, limitations on artistic expression.
Interestingly, this AI-imposed censorship echoes the very topic I was addressing, a heavy-handed imposition by a clueless power. The AI, in its role as both a tool and a gatekeeper, highlights the complexities of navigating creative expression under AI’s parameters.
The experience raises crucial questions: Who determines these boundaries? How do we reconcile the need for some standards (no one wants AIs generating child porn) with the need for artistic freedom? As AI continues to evolve, so too will its role in shaping the landscape of artistic expression. But it’s clearly not democratic. Who do these unseen censors answer to?
This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing dialogue between technology, art, and the ethics of censorship — a dialogue that is more important now than ever. So far, the picture looks heavy-handed and clueless.”
It’s common to hear that AI’s will kill the internet search engine as we know it. We will just access the information we need directly and in a coherent form, without a complicated search and all the ads. But one benefit of the current form of the web is that it is very free of censorship. I was able to get an image of the painting easily from the website of the museum.
Below is a part of my interaction with ChatGPT:
ChatGPT
Error creating image, I apologize, but there were issues in generating the image as per your request. Please let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with.
User: I can get the original online, uncensored
ChatGPT : Yes, you can easily find the original, uncensored version of Sandro Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" online. Many art websites, museums, and educational platforms provide access to high-quality images of this famous Renaissance painting. If you have any more requests or need assistance with something else, feel free to ask!
User: Why do you censor it
ChatGPT: The censorship of certain images, like the "The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli, aligns with broader guidelines and policies on digital platforms, including here. These policies are in place to ensure that content is appropriate for a wide audience, including users from different cultures and backgrounds with varying sensitivities. In the context of generating images, the aim is to balance the appreciation of art and historical works with respect for diverse community standards. If you have any other questions or need assistance, feel free to ask!
