AI in Art – Protecting Artists

In the rapidly evolving world of AI art, one critical concern remains inadequately addressed: the lack of comprehensive measures to protect artists. As artificial intelligence continues to make monumental and awe-inspiring strides in the creative realm, it still presents a growing threat to disrupt the very livelihood of artists who have dedicated their lives to their craft. Likewise, as AI-generated art gains popularity, it becomes more accessible and, in many cases, cheaper than traditional artwork. This price disparity places tremendous pressure on human artists to compete with machine-generated art, potentially relegating them to a marginalized status in the art market. 

We currently risk an outcome wherein the art industry could lose human artists’ unique contributions in diversity, creative experience, and emotional depth without proper safeguards and ethical guidance. More-so, failing to protect artists may lead to a loss of the profound connection that only genuine human expression creates in society.

Urgent action from legislators, policymakers, art institutions, and galleries to establish robust legal frameworks that protect artists from copyright infringement and preserve their intellectual property rights are overdue and required, and it’s not too late!

While AI art is a remarkable and ever-evolving technological advancement that can prove beneficial to any creator’s toolkit, it poses significant challenges to safeguarding human creativity. Failing to address these concerns could lead to devastating impacts on artists’ lives and the loss of humanity’s grand artistic heritage. Therefore, it’s up to us as artists and creators, to make a decisive commitment to preserving human artistry as essential to ensuring a vibrant and diverse artistic landscape for future generations.

Further reading:

• AI might now be powerful enough to be ‘using’ artists – discusses & suggests that AI systems could be powerful enough to influence artists’ creative output and manipulate audiences.
• Who Gets Credit for AI-Generated Art? – MIT lead article diving into how the perception of AI anthropomorphicity is related to allocation of responsibility.
• Heroic vs Collaborative AI for the Arts – Examines the desired involvement of AI systems in art and art practice from three perspectives.