AI Art – How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Concept of Art

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing our world and also revitalizing the arts. AI technologies can open up exciting new avenues for art through intelligent algorithms. However, this technological revolution also raises many questions:

• Is this art at all, or just artificial?
• Can AI even create art?
• Who is the artist? The machine, the programmer, or the person whose data was used to feed the algorithm?
• What is the legal situation regarding authorship?
• How are algorithms changing the art market?
• And is all of this even important?

The pace of change also fuels anxiety and uncertainty. Does the concept of art to be completely redefined?

Let us explore together how the winds of change through AI technologies are manifesting themselves in the art world.

The AI ​​Revolution

Art is subject to constant change, which is also influenced by advancing technology. Artificial intelligence, in particular, has now entered the art world, opening up new possibilities while simultaneously shaking the foundations of the art scene's status quo.

There are already countless images created entirely by AI systems , without any human artist. But who bears the responsibility for such a work of art? The human or the computer? Before we get lost in philosophical considerations, however, let's first address the fundamental questions: What exactly is AI art? How does it differ from traditional art, and where can we encounter it in everyday life?

Furthermore, we would like to provide you with further information and contact points regarding artificial intelligence and its influence on the world of art education.

What is AI technology and how does it influence art?

What was once portrayed as a vision of the future in books like I, Robot (1950) and films like AI (2001) is now a reality: Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI refers to the automation of intelligent behavior and machine learning. In this way, machines can "think" and support us in everyday life, at work, or during leisure time.

The applications of AI are as diverse as medicine, law, social media, or the automotive industry with its self-driving cars. The potential is enormous, and research is only just beginning. In recent years, this has led to new, exciting, and not always uncontroversial functions and developments, such as TikTok , which is based entirely on algorithmic content.

Recently, the term "AI art" . In the art world, AI technology is being used to create artworks that can be produced by machines themselves. This is achieved through the use of algorithms programmed with specific parameters to generate artworks. AI technology has revolutionized the art world by creating new opportunities for artists to create and present their work.

Some artists use AI technology to create their own artwork, while others use the technology to improve and expand their work.

One example of a fruitful human-machine partnership is the Berlin-based artist Roman Lipski. When Lipski presents his AI assistant with images of Californian landscapes, for instance, the intelligent machine sketches out various approaches for him in advance, suggesting different ways to depict the region between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

These sketches serve as inspiration for the Polish-born painter, on the basis of which he develops his own unique interpretations. The artist himself speaks euphorically of a

a true partnership between a painter and artificial intelligence.”

The author Harald Willenbrock – co-founder of the magazines brand eins and WALDEN – reported on this innovative and extremely productive partnership in the ZEITGEISTER section of the Goethe Institute: “When is art actually art?” .

Numerous other artificial intelligences exist that operate in the artistic field in this or a similar way. Another prominent example is a neural network in France that independently recomposed the song "Daddy's Car" in the style of the band's composers John Lennon and Paul McCartney, based on 45 Beatles songs.

In October 2018, the AI-generated painting “Portrait of Edmund de Belamy” a record price of $432,500 at an auction held by the New York auction house Christie’s

What's special about it: The work was created by an algorithm based on artificial intelligence.

This fact raises current questions, although the discussion about the capabilities of computers in relation to art and music has been ongoing for a long time. As early as 1956 piece of music composed , the "Illiac Suite" for string quartet by Lejaren Hiller, was created .

A team led by neuroscientist Matthias Bethge in Tübingen developed AI software that analyzes and reproduces the works of famous painters. On Bethge's website , deepart.io, users could upload any image and have it transformed into a work of art in the style of their chosen master for €1.99.

“Art is primarily a matter of perception ,” according to the scientist. (Unfortunately, the site was unavailable at the time of writing and appeared to have been down for some time. Alternatives include NightCafé Creator , Deep Dream Generator , and the Prisma app .)

The use of AI technology in art has also sparked debates about whether machines are capable of creating artworks comparable to those of human artists. Despite these debates, AI technology has undoubtedly transformed the art world and will continue to do so.

What is AI art?

The question of what constitutes AI Art is relatively easy to answer. AI Art works are those created through the use of artificial intelligence. In contrast to the traditional method, where an artist creates a picture with their own hands, here the work is generated by artificial intelligence.

Recently, the image titled “Théâtre D'opéra Spatial” attracted a lot of attention online, as it won first place in an art competition (WERTGARANTIE reported on this in the guide article “What is AI Art ? These are the most important facts” ).

This work is a remarkable example of the application of artificial intelligence in art. The image was generated "Midjourney" Jason Allen . Although Allen primarily works as a board game developer, he entered an amateur art competition in the US state of Colorado and won first place with his entry.

The image depicts three figures in classical attire posing in front of a majestic, round gateway from which bright light streams into a dark hall. The artwork's impact is striking, especially considering it was entirely generated by AI and only received its final form through subsequent editing by a human artist.

When people talk about AI Art , they usually mean images designed on a computer and later printed or transferred to canvas – or sold online NFT art sculpture , music , or architecture .

How is AI-generated art created?

In what ways can artificial intelligence produce art? Currently, there are special programs that make it possible to create works using AI Art .

One of the best-known tools is Stable Diffusion , which can generate stunning images. All you need is a short description of the desired content. This type of tool is also known as a text -to-image generator .

After entering the description, the program generates a multitude of possible images, created exclusively through artificial intelligence. Other programs that work in a similar way include Midjourney , Crayion , and DALL-E 2 .

Can AI Art ?

There is disagreement about whether AI is capable of creating true art. The perspective from which this question is viewed plays a crucial role. Does one consider the authorship of a work of art, or does one judge art based on its impact on the audience? Futurist Bernd Flessner primarily assesses AI-generated art from the audience's point of view. He believes that a work of art can be considered as such if it holds meaning for viewers, listeners, or readers, regardless of who created it. An algorithm, therefore, can be just as creative as a human being.

Neuroscientist Bethge also believes that machines already fulfill the classic criteria of human creativity. Modern AI gathers experience, analyzes structures, breaks free from the past, and creates something new and surprising on this basis. This is comparable to the creative process of a human being.

A remarkable example of AI creativity is the game AlphaGo . In March 2016, the AI ​​competed against the then-best human player of the Chinese strategy board game Go. In a memorable endgame, the AI ​​made a move that critics considered uncharacteristic of a human player. However, this move proved ingenious and led to the machine's victory. Viewers who watched the human-machine match live on YouTube were completely taken aback.

Another expert in this field is mathematician Marcus du Sautoy , who teaches at the prestigious University of Oxford and authored the book "The Creativity Code" about the connection between artificial intelligence and creativity. He recognizes that AI-generated art, literature, and music can usher in a new era of creativity because they are able to capture and combine data faster and more comprehensively than humans.

machine learning can even be used to make machine-generated artifacts more human-like. A remarkable example of this is the French collective Obvious , which pitted a generator algorithm against a discriminator algorithm in a portrait of the fictional Edmund de Belamy. More on this in the Goethe Institute's article: “When is art actually art?” .

Limitations and shortcomings of AI

Although intelligent software increasingly resembles the abilities of human artists, it still lacks awareness of social, emotional, and societal factors – and these are a central driving force behind human creative work.

From a sociological perspective , the software is a mixture of a blind mirror and a narrow-minded specialist. Although its ability to quickly penetrate any digitized discipline is impressive, it displays a blatant naiveté regarding everything that happens outside its programmed objectives and available data set.

She does not draw any connections to other areas of life and experience, nor does she make any abstractions from them.

AI art and copyright

The right to one's own image is regulated by the German Copyright Act . From a legal perspective, the question now arises as to who the author of AI-generated art is: Is it the software, its programmers, or the developers who provided it with data and a commission? And what about the authors of the musical pieces, drawings, or novels that were used as data material?

very concrete after the sale of the AI ​​artwork “Edmond de Belamy” The entire auction proceeds went to the Paris-based Obvious collective , who interpreted their work as highlighting the parallel between programming an algorithm and the expertise that constitutes an artist's craft and style.

However, this led to discontent for Robbie Barat . The American artist and developer, who had made the algorithm open source for free use and further development, received nothing, just like the many illustrators and painters whose works were fed into the “Edmond de Belamy” generator as data.

AI offers a new perspective on our human concept of art . AI-supported or AI-generated art is therefore relevant because it raises the age-old controversy of who or what an artist is in a new way. It may be a still-blind mirror, but one in which we can recognize ourselves a little better.

AI and Applied Arts

Another perspective emerges when we consider art as a utilitarian object: according to this view, images cannot be judged by their artistic or market value, but rather by their utility. It is astonishing to see what AI can now achieve in this area. With the help of plotters and 3D printers, the possibilities for artistic expression are expanding even further.

AI can create images that are indistinguishable from reality. Algorithms can render human faces so realistically that they are almost indistinguishable from real photographs and people. Landscapes, buildings, and other details can also be generated by AI.

In the field of stock photography, AI-generated images can be produced without infringing on the personal rights of the people depicted or giving rise to any claims for compensation. The trade magazine meedia considers this the biggest upheaval in the stock market since the invention of user-generated content. Powerful, AI-based tools create digital assets out of thin air.

However, even with such works, copyrights and stock images are created that can be marketed. Only copyright protection is eliminated, which puts the legitimacy of photo agencies to the test.

It is impossible to accurately predict the impact of this transformation – how disruptive or productive it will be. However, it is undeniable that massive changes are imminent and every industry should address them.

It is advisable to actively participate in the change. A clear indication of this is the transformation of the working world, which has already begun in many industries. Data enthusiasts are discovering their artistic side and combining it with their technical expertise to create "artist scientist"

Examples of this are the AI ​​artist ALAgrApHY and the former Google employee Dr. Viva , as the editors of Digital Excellence already mentioned in their article from 2021: “AI and images: Is it art or artificial?”

It is possible that the professional profile of art critics and the arts section will soon change in a direction where people allow algorithms to assist them in interpreting and evaluating art.