In Defense of AiArt: The Humanity of AiArt

Pushing back on the artlessness and inhumanity criticisms of art generated with artificial intelligence

TLDR: I too am a critic of AiArt. I’ve written about its bias, for example. The deeply encoded bias is serious cause for concern and we must address that bias. This criticism brings out an edge in my writing for which I apologize in advance.

This post is about the humanity you can find in AiArt — if you only take a few moments to look for it. At the very end I have a special (inspirational) message for those working to build AiArt generators.

Overview

There is a narrative circulating that AiArt is lifeless, artless, and a rip-off. Critics claim that it is replacing humans instead of enhancing humans. I believe that this narrative is short-sighted and misses many important points. To claim that AiArt is artless, and without humanity is wrong at its core.

The amount of human drive, creativity, work, and effort that an AiArt generator needs to go into production is massive. Ironically, the critics seem to have overlooked the immeasurable humanity that goes into AiArt. AiArt necessitates human connection.

In this article I write about the creative forces behind AiArt and how the genre necessitates a great deal of human interaction and connection. I also write about how, by communicating intangible thoughts, ideas, feelings, and emotions, AirArt is art. Also discussed below, perhaps the easiest criticism to debunk is that AiArt will never be a replacement for humans.

The Creative Force Behind AiArt

To create AiArt generators (to fully enable this new medium), you need a team of inter- and multi-disciplinary creatives working together towards a common goal. This team includes but is not limited to graphic designers, painters, photographers, videographers, 3D modelers, data scientists, computer scientists, data engineers, and more.

Each team member brings their own unique perspective and skill set to the table which all contribute to the final product. The level of coordination and collaboration required is immense. In other words, there is nothing automated or lifeless about the process of creating AiArt. On the contrary, it necessitates a great deal of human interaction and connection.

AiArt necessitates human interaction.

The Art in AiArt

The real artistry lies not only in the creation of the piece itself but second in the underlying systems that create each piece and then third in the interpretation of it. Every individual will see something different in an AiArt piece because it resonates with them on a personal level.

Maybe you will see yourself in in the art. Maybe it reminds you of a time or place that was special to you. Maybe it’s the color palette or composition that draws you in. Each person will have a unique interpretation of the piece and find a personal connection to it.

Whatever the reason may be, the interpretation of AiArt is entirely up to the viewer — the same for any art, no? This is what art is all about anyway. Art gives someone else the opportunity to see the world through your eyes.

In the hands of a skilled creator AiArt can let the creator help others feel what the creator is feeling. This is art.

AiArt as an Enhancement, Not a Replacement

The creators of AiArt (the responsible ones) recognize its limitations and work within those boundaries to create something unique and special. Every medium has its limitations. AiArt enhances human creativity by providing new tools for creation rather than replacing human creatives altogether.

Those who claim AiArt is meant to replace humans may be missing the point entirely. Yes, machines are capable of creating artwork in ways that are different from humans. However, machines cannot feel emotion or convey meaning in the same way that humans can. But then again, machines can enhance our creativity. In a sense machines can help clarify our thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions. Machines can amplify our thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions. But your verb. Machines can help.

No, machines will not replace our thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions. So instead of seeing AiArt as a threat, let’s embrace it for what it is: a tool that can help us create something beautiful.

A Special Message for AiArt Engineers

Work hard in silence. Let your success be your noise. ~ Attribution Uncertain.

But also: Work in fixing the bias.

Conclusion

AiArt requires a tremendous amount of human effort, coordination, and creativity to bring to life. The humanity seems to be lost on its critics who paint it as lifeless and artless. Ultimately, AiArt relies on human input and interpretation at every step along the way — from the earliest stages of engineering the systems that generate images then on to concept and to creation and also to viewing and understanding the final product.

I believe that many criticism of AiArt (not all criticisms) are short-sighted and miss many important points about what goes into creating an AiArt piece. Instead of seeing it as a replacement for humans, let’s embrace it for what it is: a medium that that can help us communicate our thoughts, ideas, feelings, and emotions.

Thanks For Reading

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