When it comes to the use of AI in art or more broadly, I have mixed feelings. While I recognize AI as a tool that can enhance efficiency, I also understand the concerns surrounding its impact on job security, especially in creative fields. Many people worry that as AI improves, it will eliminate their roles, rendering humans unnecessary for many tasks that previously required human intervention. I think this especially applies to the people in creative fields because they are seeing how fast and well produced AI can generate images.
However, I believe the fear of AI partly stems from a lack of understanding about how AI operates and its potential to increase productivity and save time. The media, particularly through movies, has perpetuated a dystopian narrative that causes these fears, despite our current technological capabilities being far from those depicted on screen. My split thought towards AI arises because it can be both beneficial and detrimental. For instance, AI’s ability to replicate voices has been exploited for scams, and it has been used to generate and distribute inappropriate images online. While AI does have filters and limits, they are not completely accurate, which poses significant risks. Speaking in this perspective we have to think about the ethical dilemmas that this tool also is enabling and causing.
The debate over whether AI-generated works are considered art is a contentious issue, but it ultimately depends on our definition of art. Historically, art encompassed mediums such as painting, drawing, sculpting, and ceramics, but it has evolved to include technology. Rosson’s essay points out the parallel debate surrounding photography’s status as art. Just as photography requires a person to capture a vision, AI-generated art needs humans for idea generation. However, it get’s complicated when it comes to copyright, since the creation process is technically performed by AI using data from others’ works.
I guess my only response to how artists or creators can address AI is instead of ignoring it or bashing it, is to learn about it and inform themselves about how it works. By learning about it they too can use it to enhance their skills or work because eventually it will be a normal tool like using a computer.