The Threat of AI-Generated Art to Entry-Level Artists
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Threat of AI-Generated Art to Entry-Level Artists
- The Impact of AI-Generated Art on the Artistic Ecosystem
- How AI-Generated Art Works
- The Controversies Surrounding AI-Generated Art
- The Ethics of AI-Generated Art
- The Benefits of AI-Generated Art as a Tool for Artists
- The Importance of Collaboration in Art
- Conclusion
- FAQ
AI is Killing Art: Separating Fact from Fiction
Over the past few weeks or months, You may have heard people express concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) is killing art. While I don't believe that AI will completely replace human-made art, I do think that it poses a threat to entry-level artists. The issue comes down to our ability to distinguish between art created by humans and that generated by AI. In this article, we'll explore the reasons why we should rally against AI-generated art as a form of art versus a useful tool for creatives.
The Threat of AI-Generated Art to Entry-Level Artists
Let's say you're a new artist with a couple of years of experience under your belt. You're ready to offer your services in the form of commissions, and your prices are low because you want to attract as many jobs as possible. The people who are typically hiring new artists are non-artists who need art for their D&D characters, book covers, startup businesses, or comic books. These people don't tend to have big budgets, and their intellectual properties (IPs) are unproven, so there is a lot of risk involved. That's why they tend to go for newer artists to help mitigate against some of that risk.
With AI-generated art, that could change. A lot of people who look at AI-generated art cannot spot any artistic errors, and to them, it looks like professional quality work. That's because it is. We'll look at how AI-generated art generates that art later. Sticking with entry-level artists, the reason that AI-generated art is an issue for them is that if you're a non-artist, you're going to want to go for the quick, easy, and affordable route while maintaining that professional level of quality. So if you feel that AI-generated art offers that, it kind of makes Sense to go for that option. Which means the jobs that would have been available for those entry-level artists to hone their skills, develop working relationships, and bulk out their portfolios are under threat.
The Impact of AI-Generated Art on the Artistic Ecosystem
The goal of this article is not to panic anyone or to catastrophize this new technology, but it's something that we need to be aware of and not get complacent about. I know some people feel that there is nothing to worry about and that most people will choose human-made art over AI-generated art. I hope they're right, but most people can't tell the difference between AI-generated art and professional quality art created by a human. So let's do an experiment. I'm going to Show you three paintings. Can you guess which one was created by an AI?
If you chose the third one, you were correct. I asked a small sample size of artists and non-artists which one was AI, and they guessed correctly at a rate of about 50%, so basically a coin flip. This painting was created by Giorgio O'Keefe, but it's the Second one that I want to focus on. It was created by an artist called Congo, and I want to focus on him a little bit more.
Congo was an English artist whose style was described as lyrical abstract impressionism. His career began in the mid-50s and lasted until his death in 1964, and one of his paintings sold for $25,000. Oh, um, this is a picture of Congo, by the way. Yep, Congo was a chimp. The reason I brought this up is Partly because I think it's funny, but also because it matters who makes the art. When people don't know a chimp created the art, they can be fooled into thinking that it was made by an established painter. Their views change dramatically for better or worse when they find out a chimp did make it. Is that discrimination against chimps? Maybe, but the point is the creator matters.
How AI-Generated Art Works
When it comes to AI-generated art, the creator barely matters. Their input is the minimum amount it could possibly be, and we're already seeing how AI-generated art is impacting the opportunities of artists today. But before I get into how that is happening, I'm going to explain how AI-generated art works. I'm not going to pretend that I actually know how it works because I don't. I'm not sure how my car works, so I'm not in the best position to explain it. But from what I found on Google, the algorithm has two sides. One where it accumulates thousands of images, and one where it reacts to the input of the artist and picks out the images that best fit that input. It uses the information it gains from the accumulated images to Create new images because science or something. I'm sure there are lots of technical and cool things that go into it, but those are the broad strokes.
The Controversies Surrounding AI-Generated Art
One of the controversies about AI is that it doesn't really know what it's making, so it can and will steal and plagiarize other artists' work. This can either be pretty subtle or blatant. Take this example I found on Twitter. This is the original work of an artist, and this is an artist's output using Prompts. It's not quite sophisticated enough to realize that this Shape here was, in fact, the artist's signature. Whoops.
It's not just stealing from other artists' work, though. It's stealing competitions. This year at Colorado State Fair's annual art competition, first prize went to this work. This was generated by an AI program and touched up in Photoshop. Some people say that it's no different from photo manipulation, while others are heralding it as the end times for art. I don't really agree with either of those, but it's worth addressing the artist in this Scenario. Can you be an artist if 90 plus percent of the work is done by an AI program? Well, no, you can't. The defense that these artists have is that the ideas that they feed into the algorithm are the art, and the algorithm is just executing their ideas. For me, that's pretty weak.
The Ethics of AI-Generated Art
Does that mean we should disregard AI-generated art completely? I don't think so. I think we can embrace the new technology in an ethical way. AI-generated art can be a really effective tool for artists. In the Context of comic books, you could use it to storyboard out your script in a fraction of the time. You could use it to bash out some ideas for character designs really quickly. It's like a more advanced version of Pinterest. When it becomes unethical is when the program is used to create the art, and my fear is that it will happen more and more if left unchallenged. Technology becomes more sophisticated and powerful at an alarming rate, and the potential is unlimited in terms of the artwork the AI can generate. That's why I'm proposing that anyone who uses AI-generated art to create art should tag it appropriately. In defense of the person who won first prize at that Colorado State Fair, they did mention that it was created via Mid-Journey, which is an AI program. If people want to enter their AI-generated art into competitions in the future, I think it should be well separate from everything else because it is so different. Hopefully, that will happen.
The Benefits of AI-Generated Art as a Tool for Artists
Back to the people who I think are most vulnerable when it comes to AI-generated art, which are those entry-level artists. For people who are looking for art for their projects, it's worth remembering just how difficult art is, and one of the best ways for entry-level artists to improve is by collaborating with other people. When you're looking for the art to Visualize your project, choose a human. Regardless of skill, humans can exchange ideas in ways that the AI just simply can't, and it's the human element of art that makes it so unique. So if you choose a human, there's more chance for your project to be unique.
The Importance of Collaboration in Art
Collaboration is key in art, and it's something that AI-generated art can't replicate. When artists work together, they can bounce ideas off each other, learn from each other, and create something truly unique. That's why it's so important for entry-level artists to collaborate with other people. It's also why it's important for people who are looking for art for their projects to choose a human artist. By doing so, they're not only supporting the artistic ecosystem, but they're also giving themselves the best chance of creating something truly unique.
Conclusion
In conclusion, AI-generated art is not going to kill art, but it does pose a threat to entry-level artists. It's important for us to be aware of the impact that AI-generated art is having on the artistic ecosystem and to take steps to ensure that it's used ethically. Collaboration is key in art, and it's something that AI-generated art can't replicate. By choosing a human artist, people who are looking for art for their projects are not only supporting the artistic ecosystem, but they're also giving themselves the best chance of creating something truly unique.
FAQ
Q: Can AI-generated art replace human-made art?
A: While AI-generated art can create professional-quality work, it lacks the human element that makes art unique. It's important to remember that the creator matters when it comes to art.
Q: Is AI-generated art ethical?
A: AI-generated art can be ethical if it's used as a tool for artists rather than a replacement for human-made art. It's important to tag AI-generated art appropriately and to ensure that it's not used to create art.
Q: How does AI-generated art work?
A: AI-generated art uses an algorithm that accumulates thousands of images and reacts to the input of the artist to create new images. The algorithm uses the information it gains from the accumulated images to create new images.
Q: What is the impact of AI-generated art on entry-level artists?
A: AI-generated art poses a threat to entry-level artists because it can create professional-quality work that non-artists may choose over the work of entry-level artists. This can limit the opportunities available to entry-level artists to hone their skills and develop their portfolios.
Q: Why is collaboration important in art?
A: Collaboration is important in art because it allows artists to bounce ideas off each other, learn from each other, and create something truly unique. AI-generated art can't replicate the human element of art that makes it so unique.
