2 years later, Midjourney still hasn’t taken over my job as an illustrator and storyboard artist

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the author's perspective on the impact of AI on artists and the creative process. The author argues that AI tools cannot truly "create" art like humans can, and that artists who can leverage both AI and their own creative skills will have a significant advantage over those who rely solely on AI.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Why the Author Believes AI Cannot Replace Artists

1. Questions related to the content of the section?

• The author argues that non-artists overestimate the time it takes for a professional artist to create a simple art piece, and underestimate the time it takes to get a decent art piece out of a generative AI model.
• The author states that after trying AI models, artists have had to revert back to "really, hum, making art" as AI models cannot "create" like a human can, even if they may appear to do so to non-artists.
• The author provides an example of trying to recreate a specific storyboard using AI, and explains that the results are generally unsatisfactory as the AI struggles to combine multiple specific elements in a unique way.
• The author notes that while AI can produce "super cool and beautiful images", so can everyone else using the same tools, and artists who can leverage both AI and their own creative skills will have a significant advantage.

[02] The Advantages of Artists Using AI

1. Questions related to the content of the section?

• The author argues that artists can also use the AI models that everyone else can use, and that someone who can draw, paint, use graphic design software, and use AI models will have a significant advantage over someone who can only use the AI models.
• The author provides analogies to chess and driving to illustrate this point - great chess players and pilots can still outperform those using the same tools, just as artists who can leverage both AI and their own skills will have an advantage.
• The author notes that more and more clients are providing AI-generated images as references, but still need the expertise of artists to achieve the precise results they want.
• The author concludes that while the overall level of output may increase with AI, the level of those at the "top of the pyramid" will also increase, as they can leverage both AI and their own creative skills.