The A.I. Lie

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the author's perspective on the use of AI in the creative process, particularly in the field of commercial art and illustration. The author argues that AI is a "poison to the creative process" and that it makes one's work worse and less interesting, ultimately making the artist less employable.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Dangers of Using AI in the Creative Process

1. What are the author's main concerns about using AI in the creative process?

• AI has no intelligence, it simply aggregates and produces averages based on vast amounts of data, without any true understanding or emotion behind its outputs.
• Using AI removes the artist's own hand, which is the single most valuable asset they possess, from the creation of their work.
• Outsourcing parts of the creative workflow to AI degrades the artist's abilities and makes them more dependent on the service, devaluing their own unique voice, perspective, and intention.
• If AI can generate "good enough" images, it will undercut working artists and devalue their work until they are forced out of the industry, allowing the AI companies to then charge whatever they want for their subpar products.

2. How does the author contrast the creative process of humans versus AI?

• Humans create with intention and purpose, guided by emotion and thought, where our influences are an emotional response to how existing work makes us feel, not just an analysis of pixels.
• Our different physiological, environmental, and cultural variations lead us to infinite different creative endpoints, as we each see the world slightly differently.
• AI, on the other hand, is a mindless average aggregate of data, lacking any true intelligence, desire, or emotion to motivate its actions.

3. What does the author see as the central lie behind AI art programs? The author argues that these AI programs are not actually meant for artists, as they claim, but rather to undercut and replace working artists with "fast, cheap, and 'good enough'" outputs, until the industry is devalued to the point that artists can no longer make a living.

[02] The Importance of an Artist's Unique Voice

1. What does the author consider essential for a robust, long-term career as an artist? The author emphasizes that having a distinct, memorable voice and style is essential for a successful, long-term career as an artist, particularly in the current landscape that rewards artists whose work contributes something unique.

2. How does the author contrast the value of an artist's unique voice versus the "style-chameleon" approach? The author states that while quality and consistency are important, an artist's distinct voice and the ability to convey message and feeling through design and storytelling is what truly elevates an image and builds a meaningful connection with the viewer. This is in contrast to the "style-chameleon" approach that was more common in the past, where artists would adapt their style to the needs of in-house illustration departments.

3. What examples does the author provide to illustrate the importance of an artist's unique voice? The author notes that every artist we love does something in their work that belongs to them, which is why we can recognize their work and it has premium value to clients. The author cites the example of Michael Whelan's art, which contains symbols, personal meanings, and intentional compositional choices that reflect the artist's life, understanding, and thought process.