Since Google’s 2015 release of DreamDeep, artificial intelligence artwork has become more prevalent on social media. According to Statistica, there are more than 20 AI art websites that enable users to take art into their own hands with a simple concept and blurb of text.
Christie’s auction house sold an AI art piece titled “Edmond de Belamy, from La Famille de Belamy” for $432,500 in 2018, providing an early indication of how people would continue to regard AI art as having the same status as physical art.
Artificial intelligence art is a low-cost way for content creators and businesses to create content without commissioning or crediting artists for designs such as thumbnails.
The artificial intelligence system steals from the collective works of living and deceased artists, and some artists are unaware that their works are being stolen. Artificial intelligence art is not comparable to human-made art, which is supported by stories and emotions, but the real threat is a lack of compensation for uncredited artists. AI creations are uncanny in a variety of ways, and hopefully this realization will soon begin to discredit AI as art.
Typically, AI art is derived from preexisting art, which means that a portion of the art is derived from historical and Eurocentric paintings. While the pieces appear to be one-of-a-kind, there is no diversity. Fortunately for artists, AI art is devoid of knowledge and emotion, making it incomparable to human creations.
There’s a reason AI tends to produce emotionless faces and messed up hands – they’re the most expressive parts of the body, so a robot unfamiliar with the complexity of faces/hands will produce those results.
Artificial intelligence art has the potential to overshadow creative careers. However, with some reformulation, such as giving credit to inspired artists where credit is due and training AI to latch onto more diverse pieces for inspiration, it could be a useful tool for creative endeavors.