AI, a Rising Artist?
With the application of AI to art, we now face the challenge to redefine the relationship between humans and machines. Throughout history, digital tools, like photo-editing apps, have been used with the purpose to help humans. Due to the fluid nature of these devices, it contrasted with traditional tools as it was easier to alter our works and better the software. Now, our new algorithmic tools learn and create from the data we provide them. In visual art, this is controversial as it brings philosophical questions regarding art to the table. What is art? Is AI now an artist?
AI Art as Art
The definition of art is generally known as a product or activity with the purpose to express an idea or emotion through creativity. However, what each person considers to be art is based on each individual’s experience and opinions.
AICAN is an example of a program designed to create art autonomously. It is only provided with western artworks over the past centuries to analyze patterns and aesthetics as well as rate creativity by one node of the system. This can be compared to an artist taking an art history class. The opposing node within the AICAN system then penalizes it to opt for novelty. This is what differentiates CAN (creative adversarial network) from the traditionally used GAN (generative adversarial network). Instead of trying to imitate the specified input images, CAN creates its own style of art from what it has understood from past art movements. Just like a human artist, AICAN digests the evolution of art history and tweaks existing art styles to produce original artwork that’s unique enough to appeal to today’s audience.
Collaborative AI artworks, however, shines light on how impactful AI art can be. Sougwen Chung is an artist and researcher who has developed various drawing robots named DOUG (Drawing Operations Unit: Generation __). Subsequent versions of DOUG were input with over 20 years worth of Chung’s artwork. It figures out the recurring patterns and also remembers what it had drawn before. As they draw together, DOUG watches her movements and responds on its own.
Writing about AICAN and DOUG, I used verbs that are usually utilized for a functioning human. This implies that machines are now a lot more like us than we thought. They learn, train, understand, create, and draw on their own.
Does this also make AI creative like us?
Creativity is the main element we humans used to differentiate ourselves from machines, specifically artificial intelligence. It was the strand of hope we believed would prevent the wipeout of our species in a distant future. However, at least within the field of art, it is shown that AI is capable of creating visually-pleasing works on its own; works that would have required creativity if a human had made it. Perhaps it is not the capability of creativity we should ask, but whether creativity is more mechanical than we thought.
AI as an Artist
Artists create as a form of expression.
Whether it is to fight for social justice or share a personal experience, it is displayed through their art and actions.
Although AI-assisted artworks can come out as masterpieces, portraits produced by GANs often arise with deformed faces.
Due to the element of surprise AI art comes with, many criticize the lack of intent towards the “artist.” Art is up for interpretation and GAN art may provoke an array of emotions for the viewer. However, this does not change the fact that, in the end, it was made to appeal, not express.
Our group attempted to train a GAN that would emulate street artist Banksy’s style with Runway ML.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ck1oV5NZxl4wYkgyAg6F6DQep1_sdtcN/view
Like so, our thisbanksydoesnotexist produced works using the patterns it had learned from our input images. Perhaps with more training, it could have truly simulated Banksy’s style. Regardless, although the stylistic elements were emulated, there was no social context at all behind the generated images. Unlike Banksy’s which speaks to many as he incorporates meaning behind his signature style.
Our Future with AI Art
It is currently considered the time of the AI-Art Gold Rush which I believe indicates that there is much more to come. AI is a new medium for artists to collaborate and create with. I also believe that it is a doorway for people who lack practical drawing skills but want to express themselves. For example, Mario Klingemann is considered a pioneer of the AI art movement even though he himself cannot draw. His could not express his full potential through paint and canvas so it was up to AI to aid.
I also am grateful for AI art as I too cannot fully display what is formed in my head onto paper. The following photos were made through Google’s DeepDream, a program using style transfer, I incorporated various art styles onto a picture of my professor.
The question is still prevalent. Can AI be an artist?
As for now, I disagree.
In my opinion, it takes more than generating visually interesting images to be considered an artist. There should be thought, some sort of meaning or symbolism intended in artworks. Even if the intent is to have no intent, something is going on behind the work. However, I do believe AI is more than a tool or device, but a collaborator. They still create interesting pieces that appeal to the audience which is why, as a collaborator, they can assist the human artist’s intentions and enrichen the artworks.
Perhaps one day we will successfully teach AI how symbolism works along with the atrocities of human society. And perhaps that will be the day we will call for the redefinition of art and what it means to be an artist, again.
