AI is a current ever-changing landscape and a recent AI development is that of creating art. AI can create art using neural networks to analyze large collections of art or a data set of art. The neural network finds patterns with the data set to then apply to an image. To have good-looking images from AI you need to be specific when it comes to the prompt you give the AI. This form of AI is called generative AI since it gives the ability to generate pictures. With the term AI art, you might find distaste or disregard because it has fostered hostility from many for screwing over artists.
First, AI creates artworks using data sets of other artworks most times without permission or compensation. Some people even try to copyright the AI art created by other art and only the input of the individual is the prompt used. Many programs use many different datasets, some using art from free domain, some of art that is stolen. So when judging AI art from a good source you would have to do your research into the data set used.
Second, AI fosters a demeaning attitude towards artists. The popularity of AI art caused many to be skeptical if art is made by AI or not. Many people without a full understanding of digital art comment on actual artists’ work and accuse them of using AI. This many times is not true and the only reason behind this accusation is that the art looks “too good.” The hostility towards AI then goes full circle to attack artists. Another example of AI demeaning artists’ work is those who use generative AI calling themselves artists. Since the only input from humans when creating an AI artwork is a prompt many believe that doesn’t count you as an artist. It may also be seen even further to demean artists because it discredits all the other extra work artists have to do to create art compared to the “AI artists.”
Third, AI art harms artists because it may replace art made by humans. Recently people have analyzed promotional content published by Disney and other media companies to have found that it might have used AI. You can differentiate AI art because of its inability to grasp small details. AI art can result in a person with two heads, a car that is floating, or words that are not of any language. Though you still need the creativity of humans to create art, companies will try to take the cheaper route which now may be AI which can result in the loss of jobs of many artists.
Fourth, AI is used in making most NFTs. Non-fungible tokens also known as “NFTs” simply put are digital pictures embedded with code similar to cryptocurrency making them one unique collectible. To make the most of the popular NFTs, companies use AI to create unique images on a large scale. NFTs when first introduced were seen as a threat to artists and buy from AI algorithms instead of artists.
Even for these reasons, AI art should not be feared as much of a “job killer” since it has not reached its full potential to create realistic images. Many times when AI is asked to create detailed images they might not look entirely correct since it’s a computer trying to replicate real life. This is especially true when AI creates humans. Humans in AI pictures may have too many eyes or arms that might bend unnaturally due to the complex nature of human anatomy. AI can’t make logos as well since it’s difficult to produce text in image format with AI.
The use of AI art should not be disregarded altogether but be used as a tool. An example of this is the “generative fill” feature being introduced into Photoshop. This feature can add elements to existing images or create new original images. AI art because of the ease of access can help those who do not have art skills to get their vision across or be used as a starting point for artists to better get their vision across.
To test AI’s ability to capture art I compared an Archmere Students art with AI. I prompted Photoshop AI with a piece of artwork made by Maya Grande ‘25. This is a good example of why generative AI should not be intended as an art replacement. The AI missed some vital details like the smiley face on the waffle and the sketchy background. The AI also made the syrup drip against gravity. AI interprets art differently than humans do so that is why it would never be able to fully replace art made by humans
