Technology has given us so many good things. At the same time it has clearly shown that sometimes we don’t know when to stop. If social media and AI dilute our ability to solve social problems or make us distrust everyone because we cannot tell what is real anymore then the systems we have built to help us are doing the opposite.
There is a tacit acknowledgement by Instagram of requiring the poster to add an AI label.
But how do we determine if the art we see has been made by hand or computer? When is an image fake?
There are multiple websites with AI tools that allow you to create and edit images, build automated workflows for campaigns, clone voices, assist in writing articles (not this one), create AI painting, etc etc.
A recent CokeTM Christmas advert was created using AI and has been criticised for lacking warmth. In other words the human touch.
I heard of one arts lecturer failing any student who used AI. But I can imagine another university with a differing approach might encourage the exploration of this new technology. Maybe it can be used, if it discusses how technology might change humanity.
I’ve noticed that some website plugin authors are introducing AI into the plugin workflow.
Personally I don’t want to use it. I’m not sure I will be able to totally avoid it though, and that raises an interesting question. How can consumers retain freedom of choice about what products they wish to use, especially in a digital era? Or do we just not get the choice.
Most digital tools are owned and operated by private companies that are ahead of and (often) above the law. These companies can (and sometimes do) negatively impact businesses and individuals by not initiating adequate controls. Because doing so might impact on their earning capacity.
To avoid all this might mean eschewing many of the conveniences western society has become enamoured with. And possibly make dealings with authorities more difficult. What to do…
Anyway I digress. Simply put, I strongly believe in designing in my head and on paper, and making objects by hand. I think it is important that artists continue to make their work by hand, to keep some realness and humanity in this world.