Artificial Intelligence (AI) is irrefutably challenging the atmosphere of creativity, producing exciting works in lesser time. Artificially manufactured artwork has been growing more popular, in a digital and real life sense. With the latest improvements to AI, a competition has sparked between man and machine.
AI has continually shown it has the capabilities to compete with the best artists around the world, and the debate on whether AI art should be considered fair has dawned on competitions internationally. From state fairs in Colorado, to AI-generated music online, AI has had a profound impact on the way we view forms of art.
At last year’s annual state fair in Colorado, a man named “Mr. Allen” took home the blue ribbon in the fair’s contest for emerging digital artists, despite the fact that he himself never attempted any creative work on his own. Mr. Allen had used the AI software, called “Mid-Journey” to turn text into images.
Mid-Journey functions by inputting customized text, into artistic images in mere seconds. By using AI to create his work, he earned 1st place in the competition, taking home a 300 dollar prize. After the competition, Mr. Allen was quoted, saying “This isn’t going to stop.Art is dead, dude. It’s over. A.I. won. Humans lost.”
In addition, AI also has garnered the talent to produce music without an artist needing to step foot into a studio. For example, deceased or fictious artists are now able to “create” new music through AI generated emulators, which emulate the voice of a singer, and can mesh that sound into the lyrics of any song. From Bob Marley singing “Come as you are” by Nirvana, to Billie Eilish singing “Creep” by Radiohead, or even Spongebob and Plankton singing “Feel Good Inc” by the Gorillas. The possibilities are endless with today’s AI.
AI itself is a double edged sword. On one hand, we are able to listen to our favorite singers in a new fashion, while on the other AI is beating our humans for prizes in competitions. It is quite difficult to see where the impact of AI ends, as this is just the beginning.
As it currently stands, the future of television, digital art, screenplay writing and music are all at risk of being controlled by AI.
Does the convenience of AI trump the human element of an artist’s work?
In this matter, only time will tell.
