TL;DR:
- Artists are concerned about AI art generators “scraping” their work and creating sophisticated images without their consent, leading to concerns about the impact on creative industries and livelihoods.
- Trade bodies are calling for regulation and compensation for the use of scraped images in AI-generated work.
- The government is preparing an AI Code of Practice, but it will initially be voluntary.
- Some artists see the potential for AI to be a new tool for artistic expression, while others fear it is redefining creativity and leading to a loss of its essence.
- Stability AI sees AI as a tool to enhance the creative process and create new opportunities for the creative industry rather than replace artists.
- The artist retains control over the style, composition, and arrangement of their work when using stability AI tools.
- The ongoing debate about the role of AI in the creative industries highlights differing perspectives on its impact on the future of artistic expression.
Main AI News:
As AI art generators continue to advance, they are facing growing criticism from artists who claim that the technology is “scraping” their work without their consent, leading to the creation of highly sophisticated images. This has sparked concerns about the impact of AI on the creative industries and the livelihoods of artists.
Renowned animal photographer Tim Flach, who serves as the president of the Association of Photographers, is among those who feel that their work is being misused. Sky News recently filmed Flach using AI to generate a photo that was very similar to one of his original works, showcasing the ease with which the technology can imitate an artist’s style. Flach highlighted the resources he must invest in his work, such as being in close proximity to the tiger he was photographing, whereas the machine does not face the same limitations.
Trade bodies, such as the Association of Photographers, are calling for urgent regulation to address this issue, arguing that AI-generated images are being produced by scraping images from artists’ websites without their consent or compensation. Isabelle Doran, the CEO of the Association of Photographers, stated that the use of massive datasets accumulated from scraped images must be remunerated, as it is only fair that creators receive payment for the work in those databases.
While the government is preparing an AI Code of Practice, it will initially be voluntary in nature, leaving the future of the creative industries uncertain. These developments have led artists to question whether there will be legal frameworks in place to allow them to continue to invest creatively.
Despite the concerns raised by artists regarding AI’s impact on the creative industries, some see the potential for AI to serve as a new tool for artistic expression. Mat Collishaw, for example, will be showcasing his works created with the help of new technology in an upcoming exhibition in London.
Collishaw believes that it takes time for artists to fully understand and utilize the potential of new technologies, as was the case with photography when it was first invented. He argues that just as photographers had to learn how to use photography in new and innovative ways, artists will eventually learn how to use AI to its fullest potential.
However, not everyone is as optimistic. Comic book artist Dave McKean fears that the use of AI is redefining what creativity truly means. McKean argues that there is a vast gap between the lack of effort or work required to produce highly sophisticated AI-generated images, and this is a “dreadful shame” as it leads to a loss of the essence of creativity.
These differing perspectives highlight the ongoing debate about the role of AI in the creative industries and the impact it may have on the future of artistic expression.
Of the AI companies that Sky News reached out to, only one, Stability AI, responded. The company’s spokesperson emphasized that their aim is to develop AI tools that enhance the creative process rather than replace artists.
According to the spokesperson, the company’s AI tools, such as Stable Diffusion, serve as assistive technology for artists, much like digital cameras and photo editing software have done for photography. The artist retains control over the style, composition, and arrangement of their work, and AI simply simplifies the creative process.
The spokesperson also believes that AI has the potential to create new opportunities for the creative industry and increase the amount of paid artistic work. They see AI as a tool that professionals can use to bring their ideas to life with greater creative control, speed, and efficiency while reducing production costs.
An AI generated image (left) and a photograph of tiger by Tim Flach. Source: Sky UK
Conlcusion:
The rise of AI art generators has sparked a heated debate within the creative industries. While some see AI as a tool that can enhance the creative process and increase opportunities for paid artistic work, others worry that it could lead to a loss of creativity and negatively impact the livelihoods of artists. Trade bodies are calling for regulation and compensation for the use of scraped images in AI-generated work, while the government is preparing an AI Code of Practice that will initially be voluntary. Stability AI is one of the few companies that see AI as a tool to enhance the creative process, and their AI tools, such as Stable Diffusion, serve as an assistive technology for artists.
For the market, this highlights the need to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the creative industries. Companies in this space must be aware of the differing perspectives on AI’s impact and take a responsible approach to developing AI tools that balance innovation and protection for artists.
