Lal's Blog

2023-03-26

     So I was thinking about AI art and the controversy surrounding it. I understand that so many people are upset because it is built upon the work of countless other artists.  I get that and it is a valid point. But my own opinion is that no-one ever has their own completely unique style because all artists have to learn by studying the styles of other artists. That's how it works. You don't just one day become a great artist. Even the greatest natural talent is influenced by the art they've seen during their lives and this inevitably influences their art and their style. 

     AI art is very similar, but admittedly not quite the same. While it does use elements of other art that has been used to train it, it can put those elements together in new, novel and sometimes surprising ways. AI art can be beautiful and that cannot be denied unless one is stubborn and willfully refuses to admit it.

     Now on to my next point. Many people over the course of human history have tried to pin down what exactly is this thing we call "Art'? That will be debated for all time to come as well, I suspect. However my definition of art hinges on a few criteria:

1.  It is a thing created thing. It is not a natural phenomenon.

2. It is created purely for the enjoyment of someone or some thing.

3.  It evokes emotion in the viewer.

     By my definition of art, AI art is true art. The idea for the art is created in the mind of the human giving the AI its prompts, and the AI creates what the human asked for. It either invokes the same emotions in its consumers as regular non-AI art or it evokes anger and revulsion in those that hate AI art. Simply because it was made by an AI does not mean it was created by an AI. It was created, nay conceived in the mind of a human. That's where the spark of creativity originates. The AI only realizes that creation in a tangible manner. 

     So. Whether or not you agree that AI art is real art is up to you. As for me and my house? We believe it is. It is the inspired conception of a human married with the ability of AI to make what the human wants. AI art gives regular people the ability to make their ideas into beautiful thought/emotion provoking tangible things. 

     To me that's art and I stand by my opinion.