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Writer's pictureBinay Kumar Pandey

AI and the artist's canvas: A double-edged sword

[Editors note: We thank Binay Kumar Pandey for his opinions. This article are his opinions and have been unedited by Chronicle Chamber. Each member of Chronicle Chamber have their own views on this matter like majority of the article's readers. We hope this article will bring about an open discussion on this topic. We would also suggest listening to our podcast on the subject with Phantom artist Grange Wallis.]


Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm, entering industries far beyond technology,

including the creative arts. From generating stunning artwork to helping designers and artists

explore new visual ideas, AI’s presence in creative fields is growing rapidly. But this rise in AI-

generated content brings along a mix of excitement and controversy. While AI offers new tools for

artists, it also raises questions about originality, copyright, and the future of human creativity.


If you are connected to any art related forum on social media, like comics or paintings, chances are,

you may have read about this ongoing debate about banning AI created artwork. The artist

community is very vocal about this, as they claim that AI engines are basically stealing their work and

letting anyone create similar images based on their own art. Some of them tagged AI work as

plagiarism as this new art created by copying existing artist’s work with no permission or

compensation. 


In this article, we’ll explore how AI works in the world of image artwork, look at the arguments for

and against its use, discuss recent legal concerns about copyright, and suggest how artists can

embrace AI to enhance their creativity in ethical ways.


How AI Works: A Simplified Explanation

At its core, AI used for creating images (such as deep learning models) relies on massive amounts of

data to “learn.” In simple terms, AI is trained by feeding it thousands or even millions of images. It

then analyzes patterns, shapes, colors, and relationships between these elements. After enough

training, the AI model can generate new images based on what it has learned. These models include

tools like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) or diffusion models that are specifically designed

to produce realistic or imaginative visual content. These models consist of two neural networks: a

generator and a discriminator. The generator creates new content, while the discriminator evaluates

it against a vast dataset of real examples. Through a process of trial and error, the generator learns

to produce content that is increasingly indistinguishable from human-created work.


For example, an AI model might be trained on thousands of images of landscapes. When asked to

generate a new landscape, it doesn’t copy any one image from its training set but creates something

entirely new, based on what it has learned about what a “landscape” typically looks like.


This process might sound magical, but it’s important to understand that the AI isn’t "creative" in the

human sense. It doesn’t have original ideas, but instead, recombines and reinterprets existing data

into something new. So, even if AI engines are trying to mimic what any new artist will do, train and

learn from existing materials of other artists, it is not the same as human artists creating their own

art inspired by some other artist’s artwork. In the case of AI, it is not inspiration, but copying the

images and ideas from existing artist’s work. And as per copyright law, it is illegal to do so. Although

as we know, any legal battle is going to take time, and not sure how easy it will be to prove that an

AI created image is copied from someone’s work. The problem is, it is not illegal to study the

available art for research purposes, as it is covered under “Fair Use policy” of copyright law. Almost

all AI image dataset is utilising this fair use policy to train their engine and create their model.


Basically, artists today are fighting a battle in the 21st century, and they have laws to protect their

interest written in the 19th century. 


Any other graphic design tool like Photoshop and AI are not same. Yes, AI engines are a tool, but not

for artists. It is a tool for non-artists to generate new artwork by simply defining some ideas.

Photoshop or any other image editing tool enhances the artist’s capability, letting them do their job

much faster and with more ease. This engine cannot let artists do anything, but provide some

instructions to replicate images from various sources, and generate a new one. 


Having said all these things, ban, artist protests, legality issues and all, the AI revolution in the art

industry is inevitable. Just like the Industrial revolution, we are witnessing the AI revolution, and it is

not just art, soon we will see the impact of this new technology in other areas of society. We can

regulate it, refine the laws to protect the work of artists from being “consumed” by these AI engines

without their consent. But we cannot stop AI from being the largest producer of artwork in the near

future. The artists community will struggle, and the most impacted individuals are the students or

new upcoming artists, still trying to learn and hold their foot into this world. We need to accept the

fact that AI is not going away, and with regular enhancements, soon it may not need to “consume”

or learn from other artist’s artwork. An AI engine can use free available artwork to create its dataset,

and use that to create new original artwork against simple prompts. Maybe some AI engine

companies will pay some artists to create and provide artwork for their AI to consume and enhance

the capabilities. It looks like we can address the ethical and legal part related to these new AI

engines, but the fact remains that there is a strong future of AI generated art. And this future is not

very bright for lots of existing artists as they will find less assignments due to AI taking over the

majority share of their workload. There will be non-artist people or companies that will get these

assignments, and will run past multiple prompts to generate multiple new artwork in a short span of

time. You may still need some artist to do touch-up or editing on the AI generated artwork, but the

work and pay for these artists will be very less. Similar changes have already happened in other

fields that have disrupted the entire industry and taken away almost the entire job of those

communities. The manual work of craftsmen like carpenters or blacksmith is replaced with machines

creating all kinds of stuff much faster and cheaper. A similar creative example would be

photography. With today’s mobile phone camera and tons of filters, anyone without any knowledge

of photography can become a professional photographer. High end video cameras in your mobile

phone have resulted in many individuals creating really good content videos without any knowledge

of video shooting or editing.


Any new technology or tool will create some disruption in the existing way of doing things. Even in

the field of art, the introduction of tools & processes like Photoshop, digital colouring had impacted

the existing artist, as the new generation of artists were much more efficient and started providing

faster results using these new techniques. It was obvious that the majority of new assignments went

to these new generation artists.  


The Pros and Cons of AI in Creative Fields

There are arguments for and against the use of AI in creative fields, as communities are very vocal on

this topic. There are merit in both side’s arguments, so let’s discuss some of the key arguments on

this topic.


Arguments in support of the Use of AI in Creative Fields


1. Efficiency and Productivity

AI tools can save artists time and effort by automating certain parts of the creative process. For

example, AI can quickly generate visual ideas, assist in color correction, or help artists test various

design options. This means artists can focus on refining their final pieces, making their workflow

faster and more efficient.


2. Expansion of Creativity

AI can serve as a creative partner, inspiring artists to think outside their usual box. By offering

unexpected combinations of styles or elements, AI tools help break creative blocks. In fact, many

digital artists already use AI to experiment with concepts they wouldn’t have considered otherwise.


3. Democratization of Art

Previously, making high-quality digital art required specialized skills and expensive software. Now,

thanks to AI tools, anyone with access to a computer or smartphone can create impressive visual

content. This opens the door for more people to engage in creative work, regardless of their

background or expertise.


Arguments Against the Use of AI in Creative Fields


1. Lack of Originality

Critics argue that AI-generated art lacks the emotional depth and originality that comes from human

creativity. While AI can imitate styles or techniques, it cannot replicate the feelings and personal

experiences that make traditional artwork so meaningful.


2. Copyright and Ownership Concerns

The ownership of AI-generated art is a complex legal issue, with questions arising about whether AI

can hold copyright. Since AI models are trained using existing images (often without explicit

permission from creators), there is concern about the potential for copyright infringement. Artists

argue that their work is being used without consent, and some believe that AI is unfairly profiting

from their creations.


3. Job Displacement

There is concern that the rise of AI-generated content could devalue the work of human artists. If AI

can create stunning artwork in seconds, will people still be willing to pay for art created by human

hands? Many worry that AI could lead to fewer job opportunities for designers and visual artists.


Legal Landscape and Ethical Considerations


A key issue with AI-generated images is copyright. Who owns the rights to an image created by AI? Is

it the artist who trained the AI, the AI itself (if it could hold rights), or perhaps no one at all?


The U.S. Copyright Office has taken a clear stand: it does not grant copyright to fully AI-generated

works. This decision was reinforced in a recent case involving an artist who used AI to create a

graphic novel. The Copyright Office ruled that because the images were generated entirely by AI,

they could not be copyrighted, as copyright is reserved for works created by humans. However, this

decision has been met with both support and criticism.


There have also been legal cases involving AI training data. For instance, some artists have sued

companies that create AI tools for using their copyrighted images without permission during

training. These cases highlight the need for clearer guidelines on how AI tools should gather and use

data.


To address these issues, it is essential to develop clear legal frameworks that define ownership,

licensing, and liability related to AI-generated content. Additionally, ethical guidelines can help

ensure that AI is used responsibly and in a way that benefits both artists and society.


What Laws Need to Change?


There is currently a lack of clear legal frameworks around AI in creative industries. This requires

brainstorming and detailed discussions, but here are some areas where laws could evolve for sure.


1. Data Usage Regulations

AI models should be trained on data that has been properly licensed or that falls under public

domain. Laws could be introduced to ensure that artists' work is protected from being used without

their consent.


2. Attribution Rights

If an AI tool uses an artist’s work to generate new content, the original creator could be given proper

credit. Legal frameworks could ensure that artists are recognized or even compensated when their

work is used as training data.


3. Ethical Guidelines for AI in Art

Governments and industry leaders could work together to establish ethical guidelines for the use of

AI in creative fields. These could include best practices for transparency, artist compensation, and

copyright compliance.


Embracing AI as a Tool


If the artists need to survive, they need to learn this new tool, and adapt accordingly. Rather than

viewing AI as a threat, artists can leverage it as a powerful tool to enhance their creativity. By

understanding how AI works and experimenting with different tools, artists can explore new

possibilities and push their boundaries. They have the capability to edit and update the AI generated

results, to make it way better than any non-artist producing it from an AI engine. I will quote an

example of photography. You can experiment and click nice professional looking photos using your

mobile camera and filters, but you know that for any professional job, you need to hire a real

professional photographer. This is going to be the ruleset for the artist community as well. Any client

willing to get the artwork done, will be hiring real professional artists, not some kids who can

experiment and will have no control on the outcome. So, in order to survive, the existing artists need

to be in control of AI tools and able to produce artwork according to their client’s need, no matter if

that is generated using AI, or manually, or a mix of both. This is only possible when they start using

AI as a helping tool, and then enhance the results using their existing artistic skills. AI can also be

used for tasks such as generating ideas, creating sketches, or adding special effects. Here are some

ways artists can use AI effectively.


1. Idea Generation

AI tools like DALL·E or MidJourney can help artists quickly generate ideas, concepts, or rough

sketches to build on. This saves time and can inspire new directions for projects. AI can also be used

to quickly generate rough concept art for any project, to showcase the idea with client, and get

feedback, even if the final output will be created later by artist, using their preferred mode of

creativity.


2. Automating Repetitive Tasks

AI can assist in automating time-consuming tasks like photo editing, color correction, or pattern

generation, allowing artists to focus on the more creative aspects of their work. This can help artist

not just in reducing the delivery time, but also in putting more time/effort on specific subject,

enhancing overall results.


3. Collaboration

Artists can collaborate with AI tools to create hybrid works. This can lead to innovative styles and

approaches, blending human creativity with AI’s ability to process vast amounts of information

quickly. As we know AI generated images are experimental, and may not be able to fulfil the

requirement. So, with artist’s own capability, the AI’s initial result can be enhanced, and adopted to

the actual requirement, leading in faster delivery.


Conclusion


AI is undoubtedly reshaping the creative landscape, especially in image artwork. While it offers

powerful tools that can enhance creativity and make art more accessible, it also raises significant

concerns about copyright, ownership, and artistic integrity. Moving forward, it’s crucial to strike a

balance between innovation and respect for artists’ rights.


As AI continues to evolve, it is crucial for artists, policymakers, and technologists to work together to

shape its future. With appropriate legal reforms, ethical guidelines, and thoughtful integration, AI

can become a valuable tool for artists, rather than a competitor. By embracing AI, artists can not

only safeguard their work but also expand their creative horizons.


In the end, you call for its boycott, you blame it for plagiarism, you sue them, but you simply can’t

ignore these AI tools. Although AI's current capabilities are akin to rudimentary software like MS

Paint, but its evolution promises increased sophistication akin to industry-standard tools like

Photoshop. This technology will get more and more enhanced over time. So, it is better to accept

this new force and use it to your advantage. Consequently, it is imperative to engage in open

discussions and enact regulatory frameworks conducive to ethical and legal AI utilisation. Simply

vilifying AI-generated art fails to address underlying concerns, necessitating collective efforts to

navigate the ethical landscape of AI in art.


 

Written by: Binay Kumar Pandey

Disclaimer: While not directly involved in the art field, I empathise with the concerns expressed by

artist friends. Open dialogue is essential for dispelling misconceptions and addressing anxiety

surrounding AI's role in art.


[Editors note: We thank Binay Kumar Pandey for his opinions.  This article are his opinions and have been unedited by Chronicle Chamber. Each member of Chronicle Chamber have their own views on this matter like majority of the article's readers. We hope this article will bring about an open discussion on this topic. We would also suggest listening to our podcast on the subject with Phantom artist Grange Wallis.]

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