038: Magic Mirror on the Wall, Will AI Art Destroy us all?
Wherein we discuss how artists can fight back against the AI Art threat.
Kicking of with something fun! As mentioned in last Wednesday’s warm-up video, send scribbles, get stuff!
Basically, send me a small scribble in the mail, I’ll finish the drawing and send it back maybe with something special. Like drawing pen-pals! I’ll check the box weekly.
The AI Threat Rises
8am Saturday morning I turn on the national news and the very first story was about the dangers of AI ART. It mentioned the narcissistic urge for most people to want to “see themselves”
More on that news piece in a minute, because the commentator brought up something I hadn’t thought about….
I know we’ve talked about the AI ART topic a lot in past newsletters and on the podcast most recently. But every day there seems to be a new turn, or new worry.
My social feeds are either full of artists talking about the bad issues, OR people posting Lensa app portraits of themselves.
It’s causing a lot of fear and…
ANXIETY.
The idea we as artists may be replaced. And soon. If not already.
I’ve seen writers already giddy about how they can make illustrations for their book “without dealing with an artists.”
I’ve heard about art students who are now rethinking if they are just wasting money on a doomed career choice in illustration or graphic design.
I’ve been trying to navigate and learn how all this is working, how we might apply it, but the more I learn, the more I’m leaning against it on an ethical standpoint.
For the sheer idea that the AI engines have been “fed” artist’s galleries to “train” it, without compensation or permission. It’s not right. It’s only a matter of time now before we see a class-action lawsuit against these AI Art apps and brands.
In the meantime, here’s what you can do to defeat the AI Art Threat…
#1 Forget all of the negative feelings. You should feel good that you can do this BY HAND. You are a human. It’s amazing and MAGICAL that you can have a vision in your mind and bring it to live on a canvas of your choice.
Remember your GOOD feelings of being in the zone when you draw or create. A computer will never feel or understand that “zone” I’m talking about. But you do. Use that to your advantage.
#2 The only thing you have to fear is fear itself.
My wager is not so much will change. The fad will fade away and the “normal” people will move on to the next hip thing of the week.
It is troublesome if this is your livelihood… you might feel like this is going to replace you, or make a majority of humans devalue paying you as an artist. Fear not!
The real trick that AI can’t do is be a human. It’s now a necessary part of your job to make a REAL connection with your audience and customers in a meaningful way. Be MORE HUMAN as things get more Artificial. Get more HAND-MADE
My take: I think this will make analog, hand-made art even more special and sought after.
#3 DO IT BECAUSE YOU MUST!
I think after weeks learning about AI Art and talking to other artists about it, for me, as a human, it boils down to one thing… I’m not going to stop making art as long as I’m alive.
I’m damn sure not going to let it get me down.
I don’t care if a computer can make art in a milisecond. Or that people will throw money at it. Foolish.
That part won’t last.
It’s a novelty to “see themselves pretty”. The same as it’s unlikely for most people to buy more than one or two carticatures of themselves.
Keep making your your own art, at your own speed.
#4 Support local artists when you can!
Now is a great time of the year to support artists and buy some original gifts for others. This week I commissioned a local artist to do a pet portrait for my co-worker’s christmas gift. Help other artists stay encouraged!
“Artist*” “Creator*”…. Barry Bonds???*
For those out there wanting to call themselves Artists or Creators but are really having AI do the lion’s share of the work, you may need to have an asterik by their names, like Barry Bonds*.
For those who may not know who that is… Barry Bonds broke the homerun record in baseball hitting a 756th home run. But it turned out, he was on steroids. The Baseball Hall of Fame and record books have an asterik next to his name.
A funny aside to that story: REAL artist, Marc Ecko, bought that baseball and put up a vote if they would send it to the Hall of Fame branded with an asterik on the ball. And indeed the fans voted to brand the bal permanently with an asterisk and shipped to the Hall of Fame.
Do what what you wish with AI Art, but don’t forget your asterik on the way out the door.
That one other thing…
Back to the national news program I was watching Saturday Morning.
Sure, the AI expert guy brought up the ethics of not paying artists, but his main concern was that apps like LENSA make what seem to be smoothed out over-sexualized versions of people, especially women.
And that this may elevate body dismorphia and negative self talk about how young men and women think they need to look.
The Weekly Drawing Prompt CHALLENGE!
This week’s prompt is…
“TRAPPED IN A SNOW GLOBE!”
Draw out what you envision when you read that, and tag #drawordieclub so we can find each other or show your art on the podcast.
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Don’t let the robots get you down! Keep drawing every damn day!
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