On October 25, 2018, Eileen Kinsella released an article titled “The Initial AI-Generated Portrait Ever Auctioned Breaks Expectations, Garnering $432,500—43 Times Its Prediction” on Artnet News.
The landscape in AI art has seen a significant transformation in the wake of this sale, setting a new benchmark for the valuation of AI-generated artworks. Is there a looming crisis in the realm of AI-created art? What are the key considerations in this domain? An opinion piece could shed light on these inquiries.
Renowned scholar Anjay Chatterjee, in his critical analysis (Chatterjee, 2022) within the spheres of science and art, delves into pivotal aspects. He explores the following themes: 1) the notion of agency in AI; 2) the role of authenticity in its creation; 3) its connection to art appreciation; and 4) the potential for AI to exhibit independent creativity.
Is there solidity in AI art?
Chatterjee defines this as “the decisions a man makes, their deliberateness, desires, and the caliber of their work.” Drawing parallels, he illustrates how a child’s artwork, though seemingly abstract, may lack intentional abstraction, unlike a deliberate creation by an artist like Picasso. Similarly, does an AI-generated abstract piece, instructed to create in that style, possess the same intent as a human artist’s work? The arguments for and against this proposition are multifaceted.
Another perspective suggests that replicas often carry negative connotations in society. AI art may struggle to gain acceptance if perceived as counterfeit. Conversely, it stands a better chance of recognition if viewed as authentic. To maintain transparency, clear AI attribution would be essential on the artwork, signature, or citation.
AI Art: Authenticity Debate
Dr. Chatterjee raises a thought-provoking point: “In a study, viewers reacted positively to identical abstract images (Kirk et al., 2009) when they believed the pieces were exhibited in a gallery.”
Furthermore, participants showed heightened brain activity in pleasure centers when they thought the artwork originated from a museum rather than an AI source. Similar findings have been noted in studies on wine appreciation.
Chatterjee speculates on the temporal aspect, questioning the enduring validity of responses recorded in 2009 in the years ahead. This leaves room for evolving perspectives in the future.
My inclination leans towards devaluing items produced en masse or through mechanized means. The principle of scarcity underpins this devaluation. Scarcity enhances value, as seen in the art world where rarity commands higher prices. While each AI creation may be unique, they often exhibit minimal divergence and resemble abundance rather than scarcity. Dalle-3’s two analogous abstract artworks created in response to a prompt exemplify this trend.
The ethereal nature of this artwork closely mirrors past AI abstract creations.
Dalle-3 is the catalyst.
Art of an intangible nature
Dalle-3 is the catalyst./OpenAI
AI and Art Appreciation
Understanding the preferred art genres of distinct demographics is pivotal for AI to truly resonate with researchers in this field. AI systems can be trained to uncover latent patterns in art, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of analysis. This marks a significant advancement over earlier methods that relied solely on subjects’ stated preferences (Ishizu et al., 2011).
AI: Fostering Creativity?
The question of whether AI can autonomously foster creativity is a prevalent topic of discussion. Can AI truly innovate? Presently, we instruct AI, and if appropriately programmed, it executes tasks as directed, potentially displacing conventional job roles.
Attempting to definitively answer this query at present may prove futile, given the current limitations of knowledge. However, Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneering figure in AI, estimated a 10% likelihood of this scenario unfolding during an interview on 60 Minutes. His foresight likely holds relevance in the present context.
The interplay between AI and art appreciation is intricate, touching upon issues of structure, authenticity, interpretation, and ingenuity. The unprecedented bidding price for AI-generated portraits has sparked a multifaceted discourse on the value and future trajectory of AI art. While debates on AI’s creative autonomy persist, advancements in areas like art preference analysis indicate tangible progress. According to Chatterjee, our perception and engagement with AI in the realm of art may undergo significant transformations in the coming years, reshaping the art landscape in unforeseen ways.
