Canvas of Code: AI's Takeover in the Arts Industry

AI in our Society

The pervasiveness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has infiltrated even some of the most cherished human contributions to global culture. This includes our modes of expression, such as the visual arts. It seems beyond comprehension that an algorithm could replicate something as thoroughly human as creating art, then again, art has only just met the technology of 2023.

What is AI?

What is AI? The term brings forward visions of futuristic technologies with capabilities beyond our current imagination. People often think of human-like androids, or Marvel’s beloved computer Jarvis. The reality is, AI is here, and it has permeated from the depths of science fiction into our daily routines. That virtual assistant in your home or your pocket is the product of AI. The chatbot you talk to when trying to rectify a customer service issue is AI. The personalized ads that seem to mysteriously follow you everywhere on the internet, that’s AI too. Even the spell check that is currently checking my article for grammar mistakes as I write it operates using AI technology.

AI refers to the use of machine learning that generates outputs based on what it learns from data sets. AI operates on the basis of analyzing data, learning patterns, and giving results. AI models are trained continuously for constant improvement, so that the average eye may not distinguish AI output for human output. While this is intriguing in the context of advancing technology, it is simultaneously concerning for human originality and intent across various industries.

The Problem

With AI showing up at every corner we turn, how is it impacting our lives as humans? There are plenty of ethical impacts to consider, such as the replacement of skilled labour, reliance for communication, and plagiarism. However, I believe its impacts on the visual arts encompasses all these issues. The integration of AI into the realm of visual arts raises questions about the nature of creativity, originality, and the role of the artist in a technologically advancing world. As we witness AI algorithms creating paintings and other forms of expression, we are compelled to reconsider the boundaries of human artistry.

AI and Artists

One of the most significant ways in which AI impacts the visual arts is through its potential to replace skilled labor traditionally carried out by human artists. AI-powered programs can analyze vast datasets of artistic styles, techniques, and historical trends, enabling them to generate artworks that mimic the brushstrokes of famous painters. This raises concerns about the displacement of human artists, as machines become increasingly proficient at replicating and, in some cases, even innovating artistic styles. Increasingly, AI is being considered a viable alternative in replacing the work that artists traditionally complete. This affects all artists in the creative industry. Often AI generated artwork is cheaper and more efficient than traditional artwork, which is what makes it more appealing to companies and average consumers. People can get the results they want for a fraction of the cost. We see this happening frequently, especially on social media. For example, a recent trend in the service dog influencer community was to create a Pixar-style movie poster for themselves and their dogs. Without the presence of AI art, this type of trend would have been a commission in an artist’s lap rather than a quickly generated image. Now, with the pervasiveness of AI, the average person can “create” impressive artworks with a few simple keywords. The skill and mastery of an artist has been replaced by an algorithm.

AI and Authenticity

Additionally, the reliance on AI for artistic creation introduces a new layer of complexity to the age-old debate about the authenticity and originality of artworks. Can an art piece created by an algorithm truly be considered original, or does it merely reflect the amalgamation of patterns learned from existing human-created art? This question challenges our conventional understanding of artistic expression and reveals the undesirable truth that we as humans are simply recreating oversaturated forms of expression ourselves. As Zylinska states “we should rather be asking whether the human can actually be creative.” (55).  With the emergence of advanced technologies, such as the internet, the creative process has become irreparably flawed. Creativity has become corrupted with the “accessibility” of art and the subsequent erasure of original ideas. Unique ideas for art pieces are extremely rare, and in most cases already exist in some other form. In essence, the integration of AI into the artistic sphere not only challenges our perception of originality but also forces a critical reevaluation of human creativity itself. As we grapple with the implications of AI-generated art, we confront the broader issue of how technological advancements impact our capacity to create, innovate, and maintain the authenticity of our artistic endeavors.

AI and Theft

Furthermore, the ease with which AI can analyze and replicate artistic styles raises concerns about the potential for plagiarism or, more accurately for a visual arts context, intellectual property violation. As algorithms become adept at imitating specific artists or movements, distinguishing between authentic human-created art and AI-generated replicas becomes an impossible task. This blurring of lines between the original and the replicated can have profound implications for the art market, where authenticity and uniqueness are often integral to an artwork's value. This also creates a debate around the concept of “original” ideas, however copyright law when it comes to artistic works can be strict and confusing. Often these AI art models are trained on real artists’ work without their knowledge or consent. Which additionally means they are not compensated for the inclusion of their work in different data sets. This could have real and severe consequences for the developers of the art generators, in fact, there are ongoing lawsuits coming from the affected artists who want their artwork scrubbed from the AI training sets. The main culprit for this theft is, of course, the developers training the models. However, the facilitation of the crime has been committed through the accessibility of artwork through social media channels. It’s no surprise that to be a successful artist in this day and age, you must also be an online influencer. Subsequently, incomprehensible amounts of artwork are posted to the internet every minute of the day, making it all-too-easy to snag a screenshot and upload it to an AI generator without a thought towards the broader implications.

It Gets Complicated

An argument emerges, however, to defend AI generated works from the thralls of the law. As Zeilinger suggests “there is a tendency, in current AI art, to resort to anthropocentric perspectives and analogies in attempts to frame non-human expressive agency. This can ultimately perpetuate humanist ideals of authorship and cultural ownership.” (94). To simplify this thought, we often consider things such as expression in solely human terms, when the subject of criticism is decidedly not human. Therefore, can we attribute our rules around originality to something that is not the same as us? It’s a tough question to think about, however, we must remember that the AI entity itself is not to blame for stealing artwork, but the humans behind its creation are instead the guilty parties.

Silver Lining

On the positive side of the AI art debate, while the ethical considerations of AI in the visual arts world are substantial there is also the potential for collaboration between human artists and intelligent algorithms. Some artists are embracing AI as a tool to enhance their creative processes, using algorithms to explore new possibilities and push the boundaries of traditional artistic expression. I myself utilize generative AI in the editing of my photography. While it can be seen as “cheating” in a sense, using AI in this fashion does not replace the artistic skill that powers outward human expression. When properly disclosed, this symbiotic relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence opens up new avenues for experimentation and innovation in the art world.

As a result, the infiltration of AI into the visual arts challenges our preconceptions about creativity, originality, and the role of the artist. As technology continues to advance, it is imperative for society to engage in thoughtful discourse about the ethical implications of AI in the arts. The integration of artificial intelligence into the creative process has the potential to revolutionize how we perceive and create art, but it also demands careful consideration of the impact on human artists and the broader cultural landscape. As we navigate this intersection between technology and creativity, it is crucial to strike a balance that preserves the essence of human expression while harnessing the transformative power of AI in the pursuit of artistic innovation.

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Works Cited

Zeilinger, Martin. Tactical Entanglements: Ai Art, Creative Agency, and the Limits of Intellectual Property. Meson Press, 2021. Doi: 10.14619/1839.

Zylinska, Joanna. “‘Can Computers Be Creative?’: A Misguided Question.“ AI Art: Machine Visions and Warped Dreams, Open Humanities Press, 2020, pp. 49-56