Among the various contentious issues triggered by the advent of AI is its use in the figurative arts, particularly in painting (in the broad sense). It is quite evident that the skill and mastery required to create a painting with colours and brushes cannot be compared to the process of using an AI application to generate any image.
Having established that Raffaello Sanzio is a revered master of painting and I am merely a completely inept individual who still draws humans with stick figures and a rudimentary face, the issue that remains, in my opinion, is that of creativity. True artists, unlike me who lack any painting ability, are exploring new forms of figurative communication with AI. Therefore, does this technology stifle and limit their creativity, or does it actually support and enhance it?
Certainly, AI does not possess the same level of creativity as human genius, at least not at present. When it comes to literary art, if we ask AI to write a poem or a story, we must admit the result is quite mediocre. It lacks the pathos and spark needed to transform a piece of writing into a work of art. Who would ever exchange a Shakespeare sonnet for a poem by ChatGPT, or a novel by Oscar Wilde for one of the dull stories generated by the best generative AI? This is also apparent in the representations created by tools such as DALL-E, or any other AI application dedicated to generating images.
When I personally experiment with these tools to test their potential, I realise that while some images may be visually appealing, they fall short of what deserves to be called art. If I could draw them myself with colours, and brushes, they could at least be considered sufficient, if only for the effort. However, the artist’s touch, their creativity and talent, are entirely different matters.
As said, many artists are indeed exploring the new horizons offered by AI, and these endeavours are neither futile nor lacking in artistic value.
Am I capable of producing the same outcomes using the same technology? My answer is no. Despite numerous attempts, my results remain mundane.
Another question naturally arises: Is AI-generated art authentic? And, specifically regarding images, is AI-generated visual art authentic?
Like it or not, I believe this question will remain unanswered convincingly for a long time. Detractors will argue no, while enthusiasts will argue yes. Both sides will present arguments that, although debatable depending on one’s perspective, will be supported by coherent and logical reasoning.
Putting aside any hypocritical discourse, someone once said that true art is that which sells. It may be obscenely vulgar to associate creativity with material gain, but this is the reality we live in. If someone produces something that may be banal, vulgar, trivial, or insipid yet it gains traction and sells, then they will be considered an artist. Success changes perceptions and behaviour, sad but true.
For comparison, you can refer to these articles on the use of AI by renowned artists
https://penji.co/ai-artists/ – https://www.worklife.vc/blog/ai-artist
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