Artificial Intelligence: For The Better or The Worse?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) as is making ripples in the art world, but its rise brings eagreness, anticipation along with inquietude and unease. With the advancement of AI, we’re seeing more and more machines help artists with their work, create art work for the artists and even assist in curating exhibits. A point to ponder on !! While some view this as progress, others raise deep questions about what art really is—and whether technology can ever truly replicate the soul and emotion that human creativity brings to the table. 

What is undeniable is the ability of AI to push artistic boundaries beyond the human imagination. For instance, strikingly original works are created by AI algorithms like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). The GAN also has an expertise in analysing vast data and generating new and extensive data. This can open up exciting and new avenues for experimentation and analysis for several artists as AI not only allows and aids them in manipulating forms and colours in ways they might never have thought of on their own, but also allows them to explore new styles completely unknown to the artist. In simpler terms AI has made art more accessible to people without any formal or traditional training by offering such tools that simplify complex processes. 

Coming to one of the many and biggest advantages of AI - is the refining, streamlining and simplifying of many tedious and arduous tasks. For instance for digital artists, what they really struggle with is finding time for creative and inventive thinking. With the help of AI things like animation and rendering can be done at lighting speed, hence helping the artist to increase his productivity. AI is also being used by Museums and galleries, to tailor art recommendations to individual viewers’ tastes, uncover forgeries and even manage their collections better. In these ways, AI has the potential to enhance both the creation and consumption of art.

But despite these advantages and benefits, there’s an underlying discomfort that comes with AI’s growing role in art. At the heart of it is the question: Can AI ever truly create? Can AI really invent as the human brain does ? Can AI replace human creativity ? When a machine produces a painting or a piece of music, is it really art—or just a clever imitation? Art in its true sense is driven by human emotions, experiences, and has a personal touch to it. Art is a form of a need to communicate something deep and often unspoken. AI, no matter how evolved or advanced it may be, it doesn’t feel !! It doesn’t dream !! It doesn’t struggle to express an inner world the way a human artist does !! So when an AI generates a piece of art, is there something meaningful in what it’s producing or is it just copying patterns ? 

When AI generates a piece of art, the issue of authorship also looms large. If an AI creates a beautiful piece of art, who gets credence for it ? Is it the individual who programmed the AI? But then, what about the countless artists whose works were used to train the algorithm and done often without their consent? AI models often learn by analysing existing art, and that raises serious concerns about plagiarism and theft. If a machine borrows heavily from a specific artist’s style, is it inspiration, or is it stealing? 

Then there arises a more moral question of ‘value’. Some AI-generated artworks have sold for huge sums, and while that might seem like a win for technology, it stirs a very unsettling thought among human artists: Could AI devalue human art? Will the painstaking work of human creators be obliterated by the novelty and potency of machine-made art? What about those artists who are born with the natural and innate talent for being artists and bringing creativity to the table ?There’s something profoundly human about the creative process—about the mistakes, the breakthroughs, the emotions that go into making a piece of art. It’s hard not to worry that AI’s rise could reduce art to just another product, stripped of its soul and individuality.

In the end there’s no denial to the fact that AI’s role in the art world is undeniably fascinating, but it also poses tough and gritty questions. Can machines ever truly understand what it means to create? And as AI-generated art becomes more and more common, will we still value the imperfect, shoddy, flawed but deeply personal work of human artists in the same way? While AI offers new tools and possibilities, it’s essential to remember that true art comes from the heart, mind and soul and not an algorithm!!

-Shaurya Markanda