Artists In Canada conversation on AI and Art Creation

Welcome to this week's episode of "Canadian Art Today" with your host Paul Constable! We are thrilled to be joined by Joanne Poluch, a renowned art consultant and the owner of Remarque Art Consulting in Guelph, Ontario. Joanne, with over a decade of expertise in the art world, shares her valuable insights on the evolving relationship between traditional art and the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI). 🤖

Here's the interview link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=effGBcCZbB8

AI's Role in Art Creation

AI art generation is rapidly growing in popularity, and the hosts discuss how they and others use AI for creating thumbnails, images, and video scripts. The use of AI for idea generation is highlighted as particularly beneficial for artists dealing with creative blocks. Artists who combine traditional methods with AI-generated elements are showcased, including examples of AI-driven thumbnails for their own show.

Art Platforms and AI Tools

Several AI platforms like DALL·E and MidJourney are mentioned as tools that creators use to produce images based on textual prompts. Other platforms like Prisma are introduced, which convert photos into artworks using styles from famous artists.

Ethical and Legal Concerns

The debate covers concerns about copyright infringement, where AI models may use copyrighted images to generate new artwork. Artists need to be aware of these legal aspects, particularly if they are using AI art for commercial purposes. There’s a discussion about ownership and authorship in AI art. The question arises: if AI generates the art, can it be considered "original"? What role does the human input have?

Impact on Artists

Traditional artists express concerns about AI disrupting their industry. Many believe that AI-generated works lack the "soul" found in manually created art. However, AI is defended as a helpful tool rather than a replacement for human creativity. The panel sees AI as providing new possibilities for artists who might not have specific technical skills.

Future of AI and Art

A prediction is made that AI will gain more recognition and rights in the creative world, with AI-generated content possibly being eligible for copyright protection in the future. The hosts foresee a future where artists and AI co-create, but artists must be transparent about the use of AI in their work. This would create a distinction between fully human-created and AI-enhanced artwork.

Debate on AI vs Traditional Art

Some of the hosts prefer traditional art for its authenticity and labor, while others are open to embracing AI for the efficiencies and unique creative processes it offers. The conversation touches on how AI art might be less expensive than traditional art, considering the reduced manual effort, but it’s still valuable in its own way.

Juried Competitions and AI

The difficulties of judging AI-generated art in competitions are discussed. Jurors face challenges determining what percentage of a piece was created by AI versus human input. The solution proposed is to have separate categories for AI-enhanced art and traditional works to ensure fairness in competitions.