It’s no surprise that new artificial intelligence is constantly evolving and changing our world, especially impacting the art field. AI is drastically transforming the creative process and how artwork is created. This intelligence can assist artists in the creative process, but cannot express emotions and experiences through artwork the way a human can.
There are conflicting opinions on whether AI is beneficial or detrimental to art. State High art teacher Austin Van Allen described the different mindsets.
“There is a group of people who feel that AI still needs an input, right, so we have to give it something for it to turn out something for us,” Van Allen said. “So they would say that the creative thought is what matters most, and that is the person who has the thought- that then gives it to AI, who spits out an artwork. [They believe] that is still art because of the creative thought that was put into it.”
He then explained the other mindset. “There’s a whole other group who are like really it’s also about the process, it’s about the craft, it’s about learning how to use the materials and becoming a master at what you do,” Van Allen said.
AI offers a cheaper alternative for companies that need marketing, music, or artwork for their businesses. Instead of hiring an artist, an employer could use AI to generate artwork, depriving an artist of a job and a paycheck.
“I do fear for that,” Van Allen said. “When you take into account the budgetary mindset of businesses, if there’s a way to save money, that is definitely a possibility, and we have to be aware of that.”
Sophomore Alex Jackson shared her opinion. “I think it’s cool and all but it’s just taking away creativity. For a lot of artists that I know, art is a creative expression, like a way to get your feelings out. You’re not getting your feelings out if your art is AI-generated,” Jackson said.
However, in a different space, musicians are embracing AI’s help. AI is a resource for artists experiencing writer’s block, and makes creating music more accessible and efficient. Rather than replacing musicians, AI is helping them bring their vision to life.
“There is no way for the foreseeable future that AI will completely replace composers,” composer and co-founder of Made Music Studio, Joel Beckerman, told CNBC Make It.
AI can replicate an artist’s voice, create a piece of music, and produce lyrics, but it isn’t capable of drawing from experience for song inspiration.
“When it comes to music, people enjoy connecting with the artists’ stories as much as they appreciate the songs themselves,” Beckerman said. “AI may be able to come up with a really good composition, but the question is whether or not there is some kind of meaningful story that gets told around that.”
A meaningful story behind a piece of artwork seems to be impossible to generate with current technology. “If we do not have a mathematical understanding, or a scientific understanding of what creates consciousness or creativity, we have no mechanism to instill it in an artificial system,” Theo Omtzigt, chief technology officer at Lemurian Labs, said.
Creativity still stems entirely from human character and experience. AI is a tool that can be utilized to capture an idea or concept, but the ideas still need to come from humans. AI can’t transcend itself and freely create the way a human being can. What it can do is imitate and interpret us.
“I think AI, if used correctly, is a tool. It’s a tool that we can use to help generate ideas, help spark creativity. I think if we use it as a way to brainstorm […] then there’s a lot of potential there,” Van Allen said.
Art is the expression of human creativity and imagination. In all its forms, art captures ideas, conveys emotion, and unpacks experiences. AI cannot create art the way a human can, but can support artists in the creative process.
Editor’s note: The photo used in this article was generated by ChatGPT for the purpose of commentary on the use of AI in art. The image was generated using the prompt “colorful artwork with the words ‘art and AI.’” Read more about the ethics of using AI in journalism here.
