Recently there has been extensive discussion regarding images and art generated by artificial intelligence. An example of this is the image above. The airplane in the image does not exist, and neither does the cornfield. The question at hand is, “Is this art?”
The same question was asked when photography came about, and moving pictures, too. No doubt the same question was posed when the first paintbrush was invented. The answer to the question will not be found here.
It is important to note that images such as the one above does not “spring into existence” because some AI computer “said so”. Rather, the image is 100% the product of somebody’s imagination (yrs trly) and came about because I decided to create it. Instead of using a brush, pencil, or camera I used an AI application and entered into that app the information regarding what I wanted.
It is important to note that the AI app did not return this image on the first go. In fact, it took several attempts to get something that was along the lines of what I was looking for. It was necessary to adjust the inputs and information several times. Afterwards further editing had to be done using everyone’s favorite, Photoshop. Finally, after a certain amount of fiddling the image was complete as you see it here.
Could I have done this with a brush and acrylics or a pencil on paper? Well, that’s a big yes and no. I COULD have made this image using artist’s paints and such. But I could not have made it as good as what you see here.
In short, when the question about AI and art comes up, ask yourself whose idea the project was and if it could have been accomplished using another means.
I am asking myself that all the time.