As Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology continues to advance in our society, its usage in the art world is expanding. From generating artwork to assisting artists in creating designs and providing ideas, AI is recognized as a creative tool with which artists can collaborate. While some consider introducing AI a positive effect on the art world, others believe it is ethically wrong, challenging the definition of “creativity.”
AI as a Creative Tool
AI offers endless ideas more quickly than human artists by replicating artistic styles. For instance, programs like DeepArt and DALL-E are designed to create new artwork based on user input. When the user specifically types in the details, these programs provide artwork that matches the inputs. They allow artists to explore different forms and colors, familiarizing them with concepts they might later use that might otherwise have taken hours or days to experiment with.
Beyond just offering ideas, AI tools have also made art more accessible for artists with varying skill levels. Canva, for example, offers design elements that users can apply with only a few clicks. This simplifies the process, allowing people to focus more on expressing their ideas, and less on how visually appealing the final product is. One without experience in graphic design may use these AI-generated suggestions to produce professional-level digital artwork.
AI also opens up new possibilities for artists who may face physical or time constraints. For example, artists with disabilities might find AI tools helpful for executing complex designs that would otherwise be challenging. Similarly, busy professionals who want to create visual arts can benefit from AI’s efficiency, making it easier to generate quality content on tight deadlines.
Ethical Concerns Around Originality and Creativity
However, several ethical concerns emerge from the widespread use of AI. Unlike humans, AI draws from sources on the internet to produce art and is capable of altering or merging the information it collects. This ability places the originality of AI-generated material in the gray zone, as it is capable of replicating and changing artists’ work and presenting it as original. When AI-generated pieces closely resemble original work, it raises concerns about copyright infringement and plagiarism.
The question of whether AI-generated art can be considered “real art” brings on societal debates, especially among artists. Art is believed to come from the creativity of the artist: the amalgamation of their emotions and the big/small moments they experienced in their lives are unique to each artist and cannot be replicated or fully captured by others. The absence of such personal values in AI-generated artwork makes people hesitant to accept it as true art.
Looking forward, these concerns allow us to ask: How do we determine the meaning of art? Can we consider these works as true art? We should consider asking these questions because they can shape the future of AI in art and our evolving understanding of creativity.
Sources:
Anjan Chatterjee, “Art in an age of artificial intelligence”, Frontiers in Psychology, National Library of Medicine, 30 Nov 2022, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9749485/
Liz Mineo, “If it wasn’t created by a human artist, is it still art?” The Harvard Gazette, Arts & Culture, 15 Aug 2023, https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/08/is-art-generated-by-artificial-intelligence-real-art/
Ted Chiang, “Why A.I. Isn’t Going to Make Art.” The Weekend Essay, The New Yorker, 31 Aug 2024,https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/why-ai-isnt-going-to-make-art
