Creativity in the AI Age: Embracing the Intersection of Art and Artificial Intelligence
Mohamed (Mo) Elbashir
Infra Enablement | AI Governance & Tech Policy | GeoTech | Geopolitics & Regulatory | Empowering Infra-Tech Innovators @Meta | Senior Fellow Atlantic Council GeoTech Center
I have always been fascinated by digital artwork, illustrations, and abstract painting. Still, my Adobe Photoshop illustrations or infographics were always humble due to my modest skills.
Recently, I started using AI Generative Art tools by using?Midjourney, released on June 2022; the quality and creativity of the generated artwork are mind-blowing and impressive.
My AI generative artwork collection has grown to tens of unique digital paintings, and I wouldn't have dreamed a year ago that I could generate artwork using descriptive text prompts.
The explosion of the use of Generative AI in content creation, artwork, and music production has raised many policy, ethical, and legal questions related to the responsible use of this technology.
Introduction: Living in the AI Age
The fusion of creativity and the use of technology has always been a driving force behind human progress, from the invention of the typewriter to the iPhone. Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to become the fastest-adopted technology in the history of humanity; ChatGPT has gained over a million users within a week of its launch. According to a few sources, ChatGPT reached 100 million users just two months after launching.
ChatGPT has already become a technology sensation, with more than 40 percent of adults in the United States being aware of the program, according to?statistica.
AI permeates various industries, and it's crucial to understand its impact on the creative process. In this article, I'll explore the evolving relationship between AI and creativity, highlighting the advantages, addressing the concerns, and examining future opportunities.
AI and Creativity
AI-generated art, music, and writing are no longer a novelty. Using cutting-edge AI tools like?Stable Diffusion?enables users to create realistic photos,?AIVA?makes compelling generated music, and GPT-4, the large multimodal model behind ChatGPT, can now accept image and text inputs and emit text outputs.
These tools are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in creative fields. It makes it easy to create innovative content and enables ordinary users, artists, and creators to explore new creative domains in unprecedented ways.
Advantages of Using AI in Creativity
AI offers numerous benefits in the creative process.; It enhances efficiency and productivity by streamlining idea generation and content production. Anyone can generate unique digital art in a few minutes, and AI can also augment human creativity by acting as a collaborative partner or assistant to the creators.
Furthermore, AI tools allow for exploring new creative ideas and styles and generating new innovative patterns and approaches.
Finally, AI enables personalized and interactive user experiences, making content more adaptable and customizable. It helped me explore traditional African artwork and experiment by generating customized artwork
The Concerns About AI in Creativity
Despite its advantages, AI's current and future role in creativity raises several legitimate concerns.
First, questions about originality and authenticity arise as the line between AI-generated and human-generated work blurs. The Ownership and intellectual property challenges emerge, and determining the intellectual property rights to AI-created content becomes more complex.
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When Jason Allen submitted his "Théatre D'opéra Spatial" into the Colorado State Fair's fine arts competition on September 2022, the sumptuous print was an immediate hit, beating 20 other artists in the "digitally manipulated photography" category to win the first-place blue ribbon and a $300 prize. His win was on all major news media channels.
Allen's artwork was generated using Midjourney. Can his artwork be considered original artwork? A spokesperson of the art fair said that Mr. Allen had adequately disclosed Midjourney's involvement when submitting his piece; the category's rules allow any "artistic practice that uses digital technology as part of the creative or presentation process."
There's also the potential loss of emotional depth and personal connection in AI-generated content. Lastly, the automation of creative tasks could lead to job displacement.
Addressing the Concerns
To address these challenges, we must emphasize the benefits of human-AI collaboration and focus on complementary strengths. AI Ethical guidelines and regulations are crucial to ensure responsible, trustworthy, and accountable AI development and use in creative fields.?
Additionally, reinforcing the importance of human creativity and emotion in creative works will help maintain a human touch. For example, integrating AI-generated music with human-composed lyrics can create a unique blend of machine-generated and human-driven emotional expression.
Upskilling?and?reskilling initiatives?can also prepare creative professionals for an AI-driven future and reduce the risks of job displacements.
For instance, we need programs that provide artists, designers, and other creatives with the necessary skills to work with AI tools effectively.
A recent study published on March 23, 2023, by Open AI, OpenResearch, and the University of Pennsylvania explored the impact of GPT technologies on the US Labor Market.?Their method was to compare GPT-4 capabilities to job requirements and assess what percentage of job tasks would be impacted. They found that 80% of the US workforce would have at least 10% of their job-related duties affected by GPTs. They also found that approximately 20% of the workforce would have at least 50% of their tasks impacted. This impact spanned all wage levels, with higher-income jobs facing a more significant effect.
The Future Opportunities
Embracing AI as a tool for creative education can expand access to quality resources and tools. For example, AI-driven platforms like Runway ML offer artists and creators access to advanced machine-learning tools for generating novel artistic content. AI can democratize the mass availability and access to innovative tools, leveling the playing field for artists and creators worldwide.
Using technology in creative fields will lead to groundbreaking innovations and valued artwork. For instance, the?AI-generated artwork "Portrait of Edmond Belamy," auctioned at Christie's and was sold for $432,000, showcases the power of AI-driven art and the potential for future collaborations between artists and machines.
There will be an opportunity to conduct research and breakthroughs in computational creativity, which further advance AI systems and their innovative capabilities. It enabled Midjourney v5, announced recently, to produce photorealistic images.
Conclusion
AI will reshape the creative landscape by balancing AI and human creativity collaboration; we can maximize benefits and minimize impacts.
Encouraging responsible innovation and the use of AI in the creative fields will pave the way for a more dynamic and inclusive creative future. As we navigate the complexities of human creativity in the AI age, we must foster open multistakeholder inclusive and various discussions and share insights that help us understand and adapt to this evolving landscape.
Note: The paintings/illustration in the article were generated using MidJourney by the author, and the prompts are listed beside each design.
Digital Manager | Leading digital communications.
1 年Fantastic article! The artworks showcased are truly inspirational and exceptional. As a visual artist myself, I've been using Midjourney v5, and it has exceeded all my expectations.
Director, Emerging Technologies at NTRA | Digital Policy | Internet Governance | AI Governance | Co-founder, ISOC Egypt Chapter | Advisor to African IGF & Arab IGF
1 年Brilliant creations Mohamed and a compelling read. Made me think how AI can help people, all people, express their very human feelings, thoughts, and concepts in ways only a tiny portion of the population are actually trained to normally produce in the era of traditional tools. For me this is quite powerful.
ICT Regulatory Affairs & Compliance Expert | Passionate about numbers and people
1 年Amazing artwork Mohamed, demonstrates AI capability in creative productions to unlock more possibilities. Still the idea/concept belongs to humans and AI helps to compliment.
AI & Digital Transformation Leader | Associate Professor Driving Innovation in New Media & E-Learning | Strategist for Digital Creativity & Communication
1 年Great article on the advancements in AI, thank you for sharing! It's exciting to see how AI is changing the landscape of various industries, from healthcare to finance. However, it's also important to consider the ethical implications of these technologies and ensure that they are developed and implemented in a responsible and transparent manner. As we continue to push the boundaries of what AI can do, let's also prioritize creating a framework for ethical AI that puts human values and dignity at the forefront.
Products & Business Development Manager at Canar Telecom| Project Management | Operations | | PRINCE2-ITIL, Digital Marketing, Workable Solutions
1 年One of the main benefits of AI in the creative process is its ability to generate new and innovative ideas. AI can analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and offer suggestions for new concepts and designs. This can be especially useful in industries such as advertising, where creative ideas can have a significant impact on the success of a campaign However, there are concerns that AI could eventually replace human creativity altogether. While AI can offer suggestions and generate new ideas, it still lacks the emotional intelligence and empathy that human creativity brings to the table. Furthermore, there are ethical concerns about the use of AI in creative industries, such as the potential for bias or the use of data without consent