AI Art: Preparing for the New Normal

Table of Contents

• AI Art in the Modern World
• How to Keep Up and Incorporate AI Into Your Status Quo
• Reference

Worldwide speculation predicts that the growing advancement of AI (artificial intelligence) will either welcome a technological utopia or an irreversible decline in mankind’s future. Whether you support the former or the latter, one reality exists between them: AI is ever-evolving, and you must evolve with it.

Yes. That means you too, artists.

“But AI Art isn’t art!”

“Art is human-expressive. Emphasis on the human, please!”

Like any innovative introduction, how you use new tools must sit on a much higher pedestal than fearful speculation. So, before you start preparing for a new normal, here’s what you must understand about AI Art today.

AI Art in the Modern World

One of the biggest concerns surrounding AI Art in the modern world is differentiating between what’s considered inspiration from total replication. Even with copyright laws in effect, current AI art training systems raise many legal questions about what’s considered copying. The umbrella question is, “Will AI Art become the end of art?”

Let’s look at history.

Painters feared the birth of photography would be the end of art. But Ziv Epstein—an affiliated co-author in MIT’s Media Lab postdoc—said that photography “ended up being its own medium and eventually liberated painting from realism, giving rise to Impressionism and the modern art movement” (Winn, 2023). In simpler terms, photography became revolutionary and evolved art.

AI Art in the modern world has set its sights to do the same—to not replace the artistic medium, but to exemplify and accelerate the creative process. AI Art systems aren’t an atom bomb to artistic expression. These systems aren’t plotting a doomsday. These systems, instead, are liberating, artistic tools that compliment an artist’s work.

How to Keep Up and Incorporate AI Into Your Status Quo

Ask yourself this, how do you stay up-to-date about news? What platform is your go-to for tutorials and entertainment? Do you listen to podcasts and follow YouTube channels? Staying up-to-date with AI art—AI in general—begins with your current online resources. Follow AI topics, social media accounts, podcasts, and YouTube channels. Perfect AI trending platforms include Medium, Reddit, and yours truly, The Inclusive AI (Wink! Wink!).

But don’t just follow.

Engage.

Experiment with AI applications and connect with like minded individuals. Many AI platforms host events and webinars that showcase the latest AI tech and news. They also host workshops to teach you how to implement and improve AI. Use online course sites like Udemy, Udacity, and Coursera. If you’re looking to learn how to code, build models, and create AI frameworks, check out GitHub and Colab. Above all, stay open-minded and innovate. You learn by doing.

And lastly, don’t get left behind. Adapting doesn’t make you a traitor to your craft. Keep creating, and if you stay up-to-date with AI, then I’ll see you in the future.

Reference

Winn, Z. (June 2023). If art is how we express our humanity, where does AI fit in? MIT News. https://news.mit.edu/2023/generative-ai-art-expression-0615