In 1999 musician Prince Rogers Nelson, simply known by the moniker; Prince , spoke out about sampling in the music industry. He stated that although he was okay with sampling, he believed that in the near future musicians and singers would be creating music that is based on samples of previously sampled songs. Copies of copies. This layering of sound would lead to a lack of originality which would inevitably harm the music industry. Puritanical, but not completely false. Over 20 years later we can see the complete adoption and practice of sampling samples, layering previous information and sound to create extensions of those works and not necessarily new original works. The input of the musical data creates an output which is similar to and based on the input. So, new music that feels nostalgic and recognizable. New music that has been accepted and consumed as ART. Prince was not the only one with objections, the 90s saw a push back against sampling, however over the years sampling became increasingly mainstream and the music that resulted from the practice was seen as “true” art. Similarly, AGI (Artificial Generative Intelligence) is facing a backlash. The AGI art that is created through AI tools such as DALL-E and Midjourney is deemed as inauthentic, without any depth, passion or unique perspective. Are the critics reiterating the same fears Prince mentioned? Prince could not stop the evolution of music, and similarly, the critics of AGI cannot stop the evolution of art as a whole. The revolution of art is here…
AI art is a form of digital art that is generated through prompts that produce an output that is based on a dataset that was supplied to the system. The AI tool DALL-E produces an output which may be “unique" but is based on the dataset and information the tool has processed. For example; the system can create 5 digital images of a dog wearing rain boots and walking on the moon. The more specific the prompt from the end-user, the more accurate the generative artwork will be. These tools can help artists who may want inspiration, graphic designers to develop new images for clients, individuals who want to express their creativity and they can make art more accessible and affordable for individuals. AI art clearly has its benefits. However, one of the greatest fears as it pertains to AI is the loss of employment across various industries. It was once thought that creative industries would be the safest industries, as AI cannot create/replicate human art. This myth has been debunked and the threat of job loss is a reality for artists today. Hence the push back. It is unlikely that the Tech world will stop creating tools that produce artwork as an output, therefore, for artists to continue to live off their work, they need to reckon with this reality and not ignore it. AI art is an inconvenient truth for artists that reject these tools and petition to stop their development and use.
The creation of the microwave did not lead to the death of the restaurant industry. Chefs still work and over 30 million microwaves are sold globally every year. AI art tools do not need to replace individuals working in the field. Furthermore, because art is subjective in nature, artists can continue to work and to create. It is important to highlight that like many industries, the people who will survive and continue to have careers are those who can differentiate themselves or work with the AI tools. To recreate images that AI can easily replicate is a bad business model therefore these artists should avoid this uphill battle. Now more than ever, artists have to tap into their creativity and create works than no other artist has created throughout history. Art needs a revolution. Artists need to evolve.
Fearing AI is not a career strategy regardless of the industry one finds themselves in. Caution is wise, considering all the potential risks AI poses however, fear is not. Art is a means through which people and societies at large express and form their culture and identity. The conversation around AGI and new art works has been controversial in large part because Art is cultural and personal. However, AI is a tool, perhaps more advanced, but a tool nonetheless. Understanding how these tools work increases trust and the efficient use of these tools. There is room in Art for the puritanical however, AI has democratized art ensuring that the room for art increases and welcomes more people. AGI art is not going anywhere and like sampling, it will continue to become increasingly mainstream.
