Thoughts and questions on AI-generated art
AI-generated illustration. ‘cyberpunk commando hacking a terminal in a corporate facility’On Random. Coming from someone who spent nearly four decades in the trades, 25 years in custom glass work, and currently writes spec-fiction and indie war games.
___
– Hasn’t technological innovation changed the face of labor and jobs for centuries in every field?
– Were there boycotts, social backlash, new laws introduced to curb the use of robotic assembly lines in automotive manufacturing in order to preserve the human workforce? (Answer: No – not in any meaningful way.)
– Why should artists and artisans be exempt? What about the countless thousands of other workers down throughout history in other fields whose jobs were changed or eliminated by machines?
– Do we shame/blame/restrict the one-man street busker using a Korg Volca Sample Playback Rhythm Machine for ‘denying revenue to fellow musicians’ ?
– At the risk of sounding rude – is much of the current push back really just Cultural Luddites whining now that the indifferent tide of progress has arrived at their door?
– Regarding cost: do artists and artisans have the right to demand, to enforce, the purchase of their products at higher prices when for many people, less expensive, machine-made goods suffice for their particular needs and are within their budget?
– Shouldn’t people be allowed to use, to purchase what they want? Doesn’t the final decision and ultimate responsibility rest in the hands of the consumer?
___
Below are six examples of text-prompt, AI-generated art. I spent twenty bucks and a few hours of mucking around with the program.
When I did stained/leaded glass work, I occasionally had that potential client who would point out that they could purchase an entire leaded glass entryway at Home Depot for the same price as I was asking for custom panels. They were correct.
Of course it wasn’t an accurate comparison; mine was one-of-a-kind, custom design, colors, exact fit, etc. As opposed to an assembly line, limited selection, mass-produced product. But it was their home, their money, their budget, their decision.
These days, as a ‘Very Small Business’ i.e. a one-man outfit working out of a home office, I’m watching costs, trying to break even, and scrambling to pay bills like everyone else. I hire artists, editors, and graphic designers whenever and wherever I can. But also need time and money-saving tech.
When I already use GIMP, Canva, Shutterstock, and Word Editor to help my work, reduce costs, and make ends meet, why not use AI-art as well?
Is it unethical to do so? Am I somehow callous, disrespectful, sabotaging creatives, stealing income if I use the program for my work?
newest »
Where we are today is that many AI art models have been merged and branched dozens of times already, creating unique styles and fusions not seen before. Perhaps it could have been done in a more gentle/cooperative manner, but the Pandora's Box is open and now there's no going back. I understand the pain the creators who make their living off art commissions must feel, but just like with factory automation or even digital illustration tools, it's something that will make art more accessible to more people, which I think is a good thing. There's also something to be said about borrowing ideas, styles, 'reference work' as an artist. You can't create something from nothing, and many of the currently famous illustrators (not to mention ALL artists from the past) have taken much from their predecessors before developing their own style, which I feel like isn't too different from what is happening with AI.
Personally, I have been messing around with AI image generation since about February and I have been blown away by the results. As someone with an interest to make visual novels, using AI generated images for mockups or examples saves me a ton of money, money that I am not guaranteed to get back if there is no interest in what I am making. This allows me to gauge interest. Well, in theory, since putting any sort of AI artwork on your project now might just stir up the angry hive of complainers who will come shut down your work with angry comments and maybe even doxxing.
Despite all the kicking and screaming, the tech isn't going away. I'm very excited to see where it will be in 5 years. I also think that we are truly approaching an age where a person can create something amazing with all the tools we have today. Very few can have the multiple talents required to make something like a video game for example, but the tools will allow more people to create, to give them a leg up in areas they struggle. For one-man-shop indie creators, this is a very powerful and useful tool.
Finally, the argument of whether or not AI tools are ethical, is anything in the world? Are iphones and cars built ethically? Is meat ethical? In today's philosophical climate some propose that procreating is also unethical, it's adding another mouth to the overburdened planet, etc. Well, the internet philosophers can philosophize, while the rest of us live in this unethical world built on a lot of wrongs, where we try to do something good instead of doing nothing at all.