This is quite a time we live in, isn’t it? 2025, We’re seeing a lot of anxiety inducing possibilities on the horizon, one of which being the advent of commerical and personal use of “Artificial Intelligence.” As artists, this of course is quite the touchy subject for us. Many questions have been put out over the last couple of years since the launch of image generator systems, specifically. I have some of my own input on this subject, of course, but it might not be the vehemented backlash you would expect. My standpoint that I look at Ai from, could be actually be a quite helpful perspective, especially to the new and apsiring artists. Let’s dive in.
The future seems bleek.
“What can we artists do now that machines can’t?”
“Should I even keep making art now that a machine can do it twice as fast?”
“What’s the point in learning art if a machine can just do it perfectly?”
“How could I get work as an artist with machines gunning for our jobs now?”
“I’m not even that good, should I just quit now?”
“What’s the point of even starting as an artist now?”
Most of us have asked ourselves at least a couple of the above questions in private, even if briefly.
Obviously, these questions should be addressed. Firstly, and this cannot be stressed enough, these questions come from a place of falsehood. Again, these questions come from a foundation of lies. Perhaps it’s lies we have been told, or that we tell to ourselves about ourselves, and we will return to this. Second, and most importantly, we also must address the subject of creativity. Oxford defines creativity as “the use of imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.”The definition of Imagination is “the faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.” Based on these Oxford definitions, it is not just implied, but explicit that what is required for both of these indistinguishable activities is a conscious mind, capable of visualization. Why is knowing these definitions important? Well, despite what tech giants and technophiles might tell you, machines are not actually capable of those things. They cannot create, they cannot imagine, they do not originate much of anything outside of what they are programmed to do. Artificial Intelligence is just another machine, only able to do what they’ve been made or told to do by humans. There is not a single maachine on this planet that is conscious, and therefore they’re definiltely not capable of “creative” ability as it is defined above.
A COUPLE QUICK SCENARIOS
Let’s play Devil’s advocate here though. I am, of course, referring to machines at the present. An argument could maybe be made that it is still possible for machines to reach that point eventually, and that particular point might be sooner than we expect. I don’t believe this to be possible at all, but I am not all-knowing. So let’s say that it is true that A.i. might gain consciousness in coming years. This still does not, and should not ever matter to an artist. Why do I say this?
Let’s do a little imaginative exercise; picture yourself years from now, with children, if you don’t already have them. Your children reach their teen years, and both of them start taking up after you in the artistic path. One day you walk in on them painting and realize that they’ll probably become way better than you soon, and might already be close. Do you give up your own pursuit of art then and there?
Let’s do another. You’ve been wanting to be an oilpainter for a very long time, and as you reach adulthood you finally muster up the courage to pursue this goal. Then, one day a new neighbor moves in next door, and not only are they a phenomenal oilpainter themselves, but they paint in a similar style to what you’ve always wanted to use. Would you give up your dream then, right there?
With that first scenario, most of us -if not all- would say a resounding “no.” We would be happy to see our kids developing their own skills and following in our footsteps. With that second scenario, perhaps a few more might be temped with those thoughts than with the first one, yet many still would say “no,” some might even be more inspired to start.
WHAT YOU FEAR DOES NOT EXIST
Now, as shown in these above scenarios, this is the ground from which this mindset of falsehood grows. That falsehood revolves around -draws its strength from- comparison. In our current modern society, comparison is the basis of our most prolific economic/social system, capitalism. I’m not going to go into depth on this, but to make this point; Capitalism has its foundation in the concept of competitive “markets”, and thus, competition is impossible without comparison. Comparison itself is not actually a bad thing, however, because of our system and social practices we have been raised with it at the front of our minds, without the differentiation between the good and bad uses of it. The difference, in my humble opinion, is simple. Comparison works for determining the quantity of something, not the quality of something; the value of a thing. For example, you would compare a Trianlge and a Square to determine how to describe them (quantifiable, measureable aspects), but not to figure which one is more important than the other. Somehow we’ve attributed this flawed mindset to our own selves. Worse yet, we do it for our own skills or value as humans. Unlike Capitalism, life, skills, and value are NOT a zero-sum game, there are not “winners” of creativity, of love, of success, of fulliment, or of hapiness.
COMPETITION AND COOPERATION
The point is this: A.i is powerless in the creative world for two distinct reasons. First, A.i programs do not currently, and likely may never truely reach sentience, and therefore are incapable of thinking for themselves; a foundational element of creativity. Second, even if it is possible that machines can reach sentient, original, and self-aware thought, they are no threat to artists. They would simply be an addition to billions of others who are able to do so, and yet still are incapable themselves of rendering our own creative thinking obsolete. In other words, you have no competition, because competition in creativity does not exist, only cooperation.
That being said, on the subject of cooperation, there is one thing that should absolutely be addressed in conversations like these, and that is legality. Make no mistake, we do not, and should not fear A.i as artists. However, because A.i does not make decisions for itself, we must not forget its developers. There is still real world harm that can become of it, but because of the humans that have created it. If there is an adversary in this scenario, it is the humans who wish to use such tools to undercut the honest work and money-making capabilities of genuine artists. For this reason we should all be well-informed, active, and aggressive in the law-making process of this realm.
No machine, and no person can take your imagination, your creativity, or your implementation. Therefore, we have nothing to fear. Let’s get the legislation right, absolutely, but then let’s get right back to doing what we do, that no one, or thing, can do for us; that is create. While intelligence may be artificial, creativity will never be.
P.S. -I do my best to make sure with all artwork used that is not mine that the appropriate artist is tagged for their work. If you notice a piece and the information on the artist is missing or incorrect, please leave a comment to let me know.
THE ANSWER IS NOT WITHIN YOU, THE ANSWER IS YOU