The discourse around AI generated art online has reached a fever pitch culminating in online protests and a fundraiser for legal action.
Back in August I raised my questions and concerns about the topic and posted about it here in the newsletter, on my blog, twitter, and instagram. I also posted a video about how to AI proof your career as an artist: LINK
I've continued to follow the topic and since then have learned more about it while listening to both sides of the argument. This is probably the last I'm going to say about the subject. I just wanted to get my thoughts down and move on with creating things.
In short, I've got problems with AI art generation, but I've also got stuff I'm cool with, and I have a couple solutions for artists who are worried about their future.
Before I get to that, I've come to the conclusion that the problem isn't Artificial Intelligence, the problem is Industrialized Art.
What industry wants is a product that can be easily replicated and done so in the most efficient and consistent way possible. It wants this because inconsistency and uniqueness costs money. In order to make the most profit possible, industry wants to pay people the smallest amount of money possible.
Industrializing art started long before machine learning technology showed up on the scene. Stock illustration/photography sites, fiver, and even social media platforms all thrive because they've leveraged consistent and affordable art creation.
Take Pinterest for example. It scrapes the internet (using YOU to do the uploading work for free) it doesn't ask where the images came from, it doesn't monitor who should get credit for what. That responsibility is left to the "pinner." Pinterest just files the images in categories so that when you want ideas for something it offers up a plate of inspiration algorithmically attuned to your needs and advertisers pay good money for all this attention. Using images it doesn't own and labor it didn't pay for Pinterest is booming at the tune of 2.5 billion in revenue each year.
Stock photography sites and fiver do pay their artists, but it's a race to the bottom seeing who can offer the most work for the least amount of money just to edge out the competition.
Maybe the worst actors in the Industrial Art scene are the Social Media platforms: Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter, and Facebook. They harvest attention and sell it to advertisers. How do they mine all of this attention? They offer to siphon off some of that attention and give it to artists in exchange for their art. Every time an artist posts their art on one of these platforms they are essentially working for exposure. Yes, artists need exposure, but you can't pay rent with exposure bucks.
Now we have AI art generators that remove the artist middle man all together. It's industrialized art in its purest form.
I'm actually okay with AI generated art on a theoretical level. But I've got problems with the way AI art generators have been created and are being used right now.
Here's what I'm cool with:
-Technology that helps people create more efficiently.
-Technology that is created ethically and honestly.
-US companies investing in AI technology to secure a better future for humanity.
Here's where I have problems:
-AI art generators use datasets that have billions of images acquired without the consent of the creators.
-AI companies who use these datasets are making money from these stolen images and have no system in place to compensate or credit the creators they've stolen from.
-The potential for this technology to be misused is frightening. If AI companies have no regulations on where they source their images imagine your personal photos being used to for scams and false endorsements or even blackmail.
What can artists can do about this?
First, big picture stuff. There's no stopping technological progress and AI is here to stay. However, historically "the people" have had to step in to keep industrialization from destroying everything in its path. Here's three things you can do to help reign in the industrialization of art:
Action 1: Engage in or amplify the protests against companies/platforms who are working unethically
Action 2: Support efforts to regulate the AI industry through legal action or legislation
Action 3: Educate people on the problems with AI companies. The more people are informed the more likely change can happen
Second, personal stuff. Since we now live in an AI art world the artist needs to adapt or die. Here's what you can do to thrive in this techno-dystopia:
Action 1: Keep. Making. Art.
Action 2: Master your craft. Do not ignore technology. Leverage AI for its strengths or you'll be replaced by people who do. Learn and use traditional tools because of its weaknesses, so that the human hand can still be seen in the work.
Action 3: Embrace human engagement and experience by building community around your work.
In an industrial art landscape, the art that is made by humans, for humans will stand out even more.
Lastly, look at it this way: There's no shortage of food in the developed world. You want calories, the food industry has made sure food is accessible to everyone. If you need a burger quick and cheap, there's a McDonalds over there on the corner.
Just because McDonalds industrialized hamburgers doesn't mean I stopped going to my favorite Indian restaurant. I met some friends there recently and it was packed with people. Why didn't we meet at McDonalds where the food was cheaper, faster, and more consistent? Because the Indian restaurant offers a richer experience.
Seth Godin said it succinctly in an episode of his podcast:
"Industry is about de-personalizing things in pursuit of efficiency.
Hospitality is about personalizing things in pursuit of a richer experience.
People aren’t looking for calories, they’re looking for humanity."
Artists: If your goal is to serve a billion hamburgers…you’ve got to industrialize. If your goal is to serve humanity, you’ve got everything it takes.
-Jake
P.S. Each Friday, I give people a 5 minute infusion of inspiration to help them stay motivated to create. Subscribe here: LINK
