Makayla Chloe Lee
May 7th
2026
Art–a creative medium with various forms that people around the world use to bring their imagination to life. However, with the rise of artificial intelligence(AI), will these artists' dreams begin to dwindle, or will they persevere and come out stronger?
Today, less than 15% of artists support AI. A survey conducted by Makayla Lee, about people's opinions on AI affecting art, provided this evidence. One student, Yuma W., 15, explains that “generative AI consumes existing art and spits out generated, artificial images that takes the life out of it.” Another, Marissa B., says “it also steals things from actual artists.” Raeey N. also has a strong opinion on AI, “When someone creates art, whether through drawing, dancing, or making music, the audience could feel the emotions they are trying to evoke as well as the effort they put into their respective art. With AI, you can see and feel none of those elements, only the output of your response.”
Photography–a common medium, one where people can immortalize visions, improving them and sharing those photos with the world. Yared Ricaldi, an inspiring 16 year old photographer, has his own opinions on how AI is truly affecting the lives and dreams of artists around the globe.
In 8th grade, when Yared was travelling the world, he realized his love for capturing nature and life–just within his IPhone 13. Since then, he’s improved his skills and is continuing to improve now. When asked if anyone inspired him, he replied no, and said he “went into [his] own little realm of photography.”
Then, if he had no role model, what inspires him to continue? He wants to see how much further he can improve and “seeing other people, how photography can basically change their future” drives his dream of photography.
Yared is against AI wholeheartedly–disproving of AI’s use in art today. He explains that it adds fake imagery in personally taken photos, believing that it “ruins the creative point of a person's image.”
Despite these obstacles and challenges, he still plans on continuing and improving in photography. As a career, however, “knowing that the field is currently dying because of the use of AI,it would not be worth it for my future,” he explains.
Yared is one of the many examples of perseverance but acceptance. He knows that he will be unable to make a career out of his passions despite his desire to due to AI, but he still desires to improve and continue. It shows how AI is affecting artists' lives, and prevents them from being able to benefit from their passions.
There are still many artists around the world that hold hope for their own future in art–but AI is continuing to grow, and its presence is becoming overwhelming in various art forms. Drawing, digital art, painting, writing, music, photography, etc., AI is becoming a suppressing force against those who love these mediums. So, the question is, will artists be able to win this fight against artificial intelligence?
Photos Taken by: Yared Ricaldi