OPINION: The Problems With AI-Generated Art
Is this the end of the human artist, or can it be utilized in a positive way?
What is AI art?
In short, AI art is pieces of “artwork” created by algorithms and computer programs. The status of AI art as actual artwork is debated often, given the lack of the man-made nature of the artwork. However, to many, the results can look nearly indistinguishable from art created directly by humans.
The algorithm can’t create anything resembling art by itself, so programmers feed it hundreds of thousands of pre-existing pieces of art to take from. With this information, the algorithm is then fed a prompt by a human. It combines chunks and pieces of information from the art it has seen, churning out an image that fits the prompt. Tell Dall E 2 (a tool now available to anyone) you want “a painting of cats by Klimt,” for example, and the results can be impressive (see below).
A Negative Foundation
Many already see the problems this technology creates. If AI can create pieces of artwork, and be infinitely remade to find the best fit, then will it replace the jobs of artists around the world? This is an idea that artists have been fearing for years, and they are thinking now that their worst fears are coming true.
Thousands of pieces of art are stolen by these programs, just so that they can pick them apart and recreate them, with no credit or profit for the original creators. The advancement of AI-generated artwork signifies the possibility that any human job can possibly be taken by AI, even those that require creative thinking.
A recent example of this took place at the Colorado State Fair’s fine arts competition, which was won by “Théâtre D’opéra Spatial,” a piece of AI art. This has caused large amounts of outcry from artist communities, with many calling to change the fair’s entry requirements for digital art. Another computer-generated image was recently sold at auction for $432,500.
Thousands of pieces of art are stolen by these programs, just so that they can pick them apart and recreate them, with no credit or profit for the original creators.
Potential Positive Uses
Mostly, the positive use of AI art requires treating it as nothing more than the computer program it is. There’s nothing wrong with using programs as a base for drawing, or if you don’t claim to create what the program created. But people shouldn’t treat computer-generated imagery as if it’s on the same level as art as the “Mona Lisa.”
Artists can use this tool positively if they have an idea for a drawing, but can’t quite figure out colors, posing, character designs, etc. They can use it as a base for a drawing, or as a model during their pre-sketching phase. Then, they could make a sketch based on what the AI gave them and finish the work themselves. This means that while AI art would still be helpful to the process, it wouldn’t be promoting the loss of jobs for artists or the theft of their works.
Ryder Kettler is a junior at Yucca Valley High School. He has been drawing since he was eight years old and plans to pursue a career in animation.
