How are all of you staying creative with the looming threat of AI?
-
@tomparsonsart I am wondering, and probably just limited and naive about the industry when I say it's possible they knew it would AI art would need tweaking and are doing the least possible to comply ethically, regarding rights. Companies with deep pockets doing this will have teams of lawyers advising them, regarding copyright laws, stipulations and range of use as mostly grey area, so I imagine there are big payoffs as well as lots of people on both sides of the spectrum rethinking how to stay out of court as much as possible down the line? I imagine many creators are big time buzzing and hoping that Kickstarter really gets someone's attention! Ahem.. Legislation.
Oftentimes things have to go down a windy windy path, before they get better. I have found studying human behavior in history, most civilizations usually undergo massive shifts when any new technology shows up, and it takes much effort to evolve. Lots of good can come of this as well, it's not all dire. I think we'll find a way to learn more, use it for reference, maybe perspective, like how we use Pinterest for example. Anyway, can't imagine this thing, here to stay or not, can remain the wild west. Most people won't stand for it.
There are those however that want things status quo yet it's the expansion of exploring technology lots are interested in, so I appreciate that, I don't want status quo, I see how this is causing many to want a solution. To many this is THEIR solution to their problem. So many ways of looking at this!
I feel over time there will be heavy hitting lawsuits when this leaks over to really deep pockets like Disney. OR Harry Potter Franchise? Does this AI use anything on the internet or IG? How did the music industry escape this or what did they encounter before pirating became illegal?
I have not messed with plugging in a value to see how I can create a composition in seconds; I don't have any interest to go try one out, so am just wondering if any here shares my perspective? Wondering if I'm clueless on the matter?
These are my ramblings here and not based on any fact, I'm just speaking from the heart.
Erin Richardson
instagram.com/erinrichardsondesigns21
www.erinrichardsondesigns.com -
@ArtistErin Im certainly no expert, but I remember the music industry being quite in distress when digital came around as well as publishers. They have found ways with Spotify and drm etc to get earnings and protect their copyright. But there is also plenty of pirating there. They also have a much bigger influence I guess than illustrators have. Because for them the studios and publishers were threatened. Now with ai for publishers it can be a money well, because in the end they are a business and just want to sell. No one can look in the crystal ball to see how it plays out. Maybe illustrators need to walk out on publishers that use ai to the detriment of artists as a protest. But there will be artists embracing it as a tool as well. Raising awareness is very important. People don't realise the world behind illustration and how the AI works. We should have one of those funny ridiculous but also serious videos, like the tea and consent, that makes people wonder about this.
For businesses this should be a part of their CSR. How do we treat AI art? Being a business purely oriented at profit, it looks bleak for us illustrators. But being a company that is strong on CSR they should develop policies in this area.
Are writers also worried and concerned for their future?
My guess is being creative with the multiple income streams will be of even bigger importance. Building a base of followers.
Ai can't do workshops and school visits or any of that (yet). The future is uncertain. My biggest worry, because I don't think I can ever make it as my full time source of income, is: will people unlearn the ability to imagine without any AI/digital input? Will we get less creative with this latest development? What does this do to our creative brain and creative thinking?But my heart goes out to all that are full of worry about their dreams and future and that are blocked by their worries to create. Don't let AI take away your pleasure of creating. We don't know what the future brings and have never known. Big hug to all!
-
@Chantal-Goetheer and @ArtistErin The music industry (and some bands like Metallica) tried to sue people and Napster, respectively. Not sure about Metallica but I remember that nobody had any sympathy once a music publisher sued a woman because her elementary school aged daughter download a song, dragged her into court, huge fine, etc. (and if I remember correctly, the mother had no idea what they were talking about). Actually, there was no sympathy in general for music publishers to begin with. The introduction of DRM onto CDs just angered people even more. But people and publishers started changing their minds once Apple created iTunes.
In fact, this was the first thing I thought of as soon as I started hearing all this about AI potentially killing art careers. In general, nobody else will care. And as many have speculated, we’ll eventually find a balance. Just like how we now have Apple Music, Spotify, etc. (but keep in mind that artists get little to no pay on these platforms).
@Chantal-Goetheer: You hit the nail on the head. I hope using these AI tools won’t eliminate our skills in coming up with ideas. Jake Parker posted a video some time ago (I think he also mentioned it on the podcast) about how he needed to re-wild his brain from looking at other art on Pinterest, Instagram, etc. He found that he lost the ability to come up with ideas (I’m paraphrasing). So I wouldn’t be surprised if AI kills this too. In fact, I’ve already found myself thinking of using one to flesh out a possible plot for my next book. But I hate the idea. So for right now, I’m with Jake, I need to re-wild my brain from social media and the pandemic.
-
@Chantal-Goetheer and @danielerossi @kirsten-mcg Yes! Raising awareness, that's big. And just knowing it will play out, as it's in a growing phase is going to develop, and ruffle some feathers, and maybe shift the artistic landscape as we know it, or it could flop. Regardless, I don't let things like this get to me because I understand there is so much that can change, nothing ever stays the same, and with the constant need for art in this world, there are too many moving parts to control the most important aspect of creation; that is being human.
To address the concern over if artists will lose their creative edge, I would say that depends on the individual, how they are inclined to respond to triggers, or if they completely trust their ability to tap into the well of creativity that doesn't rely on technology as its source. I opt for the latter; again referring to a child that isn't bothered with these frivolous details, just give them paper and crayons and the universe is instantly at their fingertips. Creativity, inspiration, the love of an idea popping, these are all native human characteristics that are either encouraged or pinched off, in the moment, and eventually if practiced long enough can become a manifested reality for that person. This understanding of knowing the early stages of choice in how to answer the call of creation can greatly influence whether an artist is inspired or needs to "manufacture" something for the sake of making something happen.
Collectively, I see how businesses that take part in AI as a resource may encounter whatever matches the circumstances that follow, like you said about Spotify, etc. I love that AI can't do workshops, school visits, etc. (yet) and of course we'll cross that bridge when we come to it I suppose? I think culturally our society has been conditioned to be ambivalent, anxious, curious, as it's drummed into our psyche to imagine a dystopian world. Remember the Jetsons and their "instant" food, they'd push a few buttons and Presto! Dinner is served. Synthetic and fake everything- and therefore this "panic" ensues as a triggered reaction, rightly so but sometimes we get so carried with an imagined reality far away from the truth of our existence as humans that we forget what our true power is.
In this abundant world, in all its variety, there are those that thrive and those that do not. So, knowing this, the curious one that I am, I drill closer in and notice the thrivers don't focus on what is wrong with the world. They embrace it, in all it's incredible variety, and stay anchored firmly in their feet, and allow the crazy around them the be what it is without getting pull off course. I'd say knowing I have choice in how I think about these things calms my nerves, as I used to worry, about the state of the world, politics, the future of our children, melting ice caps, I mean the list goes on and on. I'd drive myself nuts, tried shutting out the thoughts, felt powerless against the futility of being one person. Getting into daily debates with others trying to convince them I was right, when I should have just let go. Wayyyyy too much time and energy wasted when all the while the silent observer, waiting patiently for me to listen and just draw. And constantly inspiring.
When contemplating if we'll lose our edge, in this AI landscape, I am reminded of my 4 year old self, imagining how to draw a face with the lashes on the eyes, the iris and how the eye sparkles. I would go to my desk and try to draw what my mind's eye could see, and I was so thrilled with these daily interactions that I realized how natural this inner conversation is. This call wakes me up often to this day, to get up and draw, and so the task for me now is learning how to pace it because I can easily get overwhelmed. Steering the ship... knowing when I've gone far into catastrophe, I just remind myself, my scary thoughts are far worse than what's actually happening. More important is to protect my connection with this inner relationship, nurture a kinder mindset, and encourage the garden to grow so to speak.
I recognize the hunger for deeper insight into life, so many feel like they can't move the needle. How can I help? What can I do in the capacity I am in to help? As an always evolving being I consider myself a work in progress.. Learning how to resonate with others in the world, listen to their needs with the intention to serve and provide a solution artistically, to help others realize their own incredible beauty... not needing to change one thing, rather to inspire. I can't think of anything better than that!
Erin Richardson
instagram.com/erinrichardsondesigns21
www.erinrichardsondesigns.com -
@ArtistErin I feel like you've been the calming voice in all of this! Thanks, as always for your reminder to just keep creating the things that bring us joy and not spend too much time trying to speculate on where the world is going to end up.
@Chantal-Goetheer I've wondered the same thing. It will be interesting to see if AI art will end up stagnating eventually because its not fostering any human creativity. I don't ever see myself getting a lot of joy out of using it. For me, at least, it doesn't satisfy my need to create.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirsten.mcgonigal.art/
Portfolio Site: www.kirstenmcgonigalart.com -
@kirsten-mcg
You're welcome! Sometimes writing out my thoughts helps me learn and communicate better, the long posts are evidence of my years of accumulation in my head. Thank you for being there and listening!! 
-
@MarcRobinson i think u might just be right about this
-
Hi everyone. I haven't been on here for a long time, but am just getting back into painting. This is such an interesting discussion and although I'm working my way through it, I wanted to post this article from the Washington Post I found today, where the same problem is happening to programmers with Copilot. There is a lawsuit about copyright issues over what feeds into the AI source material. Perhaps if the lawsuit protects programmers, it will help protect artists as well.
(this link is a gift from my subscription so please let me know if you cannot access the article)
-
@carolinebautista That was really fascinating (and scary!) to read. It's comforting to know that art isn't the only thing being threatened though, and that there are other people fighting these battles too. Thanks for sharing!
-
Here’s something timely that I stumbled across. A cartoonist “predicted” AI art 100 years ago!
