By Dan White – Special to the Sydenham Current
I have been hearing a lot about Artificial Intelligence, or AI, lately and I thought it would be an engaging topic to write about as it pertains to arts and the impact of AI on artists.
While AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we create and consume art, it also poses several challenges for artists.
The negative impact of AI on artists is a complex issue, and one that requires closer examination.
The first and most obvious negative impact of AI on artists is the fear of job displacement.
As AI algorithms become more advanced, they can perform tasks that were previously done by humans, such as creating art.
This raises the question of whether AI will eventually replace human artists altogether.
While it is true that AI can generate art, it is important to note that AI algorithms are not creative in the same way that humans are.
AI algorithms can only create art based on the data they are given, whereas human artists can draw on their imagination and personal experiences to create something truly unique. Therefore, it is unlikely that AI will completely replace human artists.
However, the fear of job displacement is still a valid concern for many artists, particularly those working in fields that are more susceptible to automation.
For example, graphic designers who create logos or other repetitive designs may find themselves competing with AI algorithms that can create similar designs faster and more efficiently.
Another negative impact of AI on artists is the potential for copyright infringement.
AI algorithms can generate images, music, and other creative works that are similar to existing works.
This raises the question of who owns the copyright to these works, particularly if the AI algorithm was trained on existing copyrighted material.
For example, if an AI algorithm generates a painting that is similar to a famous painting by a well-known artist, who owns the copyright to that painting?
Is it the original artist, the AI algorithm, or the artist who created the AI algorithm?
These questions are still being debated in the legal community, and there is no clear answer yet.
AI algorithms can also be used to create deepfakes, which are images or videos that have been manipulated to show something that did not actually happen.
This can be particularly harmful to artists who rely on their image or reputation for their livelihood.
For example, a deepfake video of a musician engaging in illegal or immoral behavior could damage their reputation and harm their career.
Finally, AI may also exacerbate existing inequalities in the art world.
AI algorithms are only as unbiased as the data they are trained on, and if the data is biased, the AI algorithm will be biased as well.
This means that if the data used to train an AI algorithm is biased against certain groups of people, the resulting artwork generated by the algorithm may also be biased against those groups.
Full disclosure, the only thing created by me in this column thus far is the initial sentence.
I simply found an AI app, downloaded it for a “trial period” and gave the following command: write a 600 word arts column on the impact of AI on artists.
In under 10 seconds, it generated what you just read.
For reference, it takes me two to three hours to draft, contemplate, edit, research, get feedback from Joni and re write my column.
I had not heard much about AI other than a passing mention here and there until this summer when Jacob said that he and his business partner at Bluewater Stone used an AI app to create an add for their company.
I wondered about it and then, either through coincidence, algorithms or evil lurking AI overlords, I started seeing more and more AI info.
I saw an add for an app that can create instructional videos for businesses. It looks like a person and you just type in the information you want the video to cover, actually you can just speak to your phone or computer to get that info covered.
It is cheap, fast and can be adjusted to be what you want.
It also puts actors who used this to supplement their income, out of work.
Paintings in seconds are easy to do as well.
When Jacob was telling me about it, he noted that you can simply type, “write me a Shakespearian sonnet with” the following information and in seconds you are The Bard!
I assume AI could write me a play if I gave it the facts, style and format I wanted.
Certainly, it could “compose” an original work for the Wallaceburg Brass Quintet.
All of these things will remove artists from the equation.
Dana Haggith could decide a few bucks invested on an AI app can replace Dave and me in this space.
Of course, that would lack the engaging and witty repartee seen here on a weekly basis, but it is a choice he now has.
Deepfake is something I heard about from a reporter when I was being interviewed as chair of the CK Arts and Culture Network.
He mentioned that AI has become so sophisticated that you can take an image and a voice sample and create a video that looks and sounds exactly like the actual person.
This, of course, creates challenges for those who actually present the news, as those who wish to alter truth can now make it seem very real.
Recently, I heard about a new scam targeting the elderly and using a voice sample of a loved one to enable a criminal to sound identical to that loved one and create a distressed plea for money.
There are a number of reasons to be concerned about AI and its impact on arts and artists, and far beyond that.
However, it is here, it will continue to improve its ability to mimic, it will evolve, and we can either find appropriate and good uses, or we can stick our heads in the sand and hope those who manage and create it are looking out for the best interests of everyone.
By the way, I asked for a 600 word column and AI only gave me 455 words.
So, I have the last laugh.
Of course, I did use a computer to quickly and easily do a word count.
Footnote: The WCB and WBQ dinner theatre still has tickets available for May 13 at 7.
UAW Hall.
Catered by The Black Goose.
$50/person.
Call Joni at (519) 627-4602.
