Is AI going to take artist jobs away?

This is a question that many people are asking, especially in the creative industries. AI, or artificial intelligence, is the ability of machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as understanding language, recognizing images, making decisions, and learning from data. AI has been advancing rapidly in recent years, thanks to the availability of large amounts of data, powerful computing resources, and new algorithms.

AI has also been making impressive strides in the domain of art, such as generating realistic images, composing music, writing stories, and even creating original artworks. Some examples of AI-generated art include:

• A portrait of a fictional person, sold for $432,500 at Christie’s auction house in 2018.
  A musical album called “Hello World”, composed by an AI system called Flow
• Machines in collaboration with human musicians.
• A short story called “Sunspring”, written by an AI system called Benjamin, based on a sci-fi movie script prompt.
• A series of abstract paintings, created by an AI system called AICAN, that mimic the style of famous artists.

These examples show that AI can produce art that is not only technically impressive, but also aesthetically appealing and emotionally engaging. Some people may wonder if this means that AI will eventually replace human artists, or at least reduce their opportunities and value in the market.

However, this is not necessarily the case. There are several reasons why AI will not take artist jobs away, but rather complement and enhance them.

First of all, AI is not a substitute for human creativity, but a tool that can augment it. AI can help human artists explore new possibilities, generate new ideas, and overcome creative blocks. AI can also provide feedback, inspiration, and collaboration for human artists. For example, an AI system can suggest different styles, colors, or melodies for a painting or a song, or co-create a story or a game with a human writer or designer. Human artists can then choose, modify, or combine these suggestions according to their own vision and preferences.

Secondly, AI is not a judge of art, but a learner of art. AI can only produce art that is based on the data and rules that it is given. AI cannot understand the meaning, context, or intention behind the art that it creates or consumes. AI cannot appreciate the beauty, emotion, or originality of the art that it encounters. Only human beings can do that. Human beings are the ultimate creators and consumers of art. Human beings are the ones who decide what is art and what is not, what is good and what is bad, what is valuable and what is not.

Thirdly, AI is not a competitor of art, but a catalyst of art. AI can challenge human artists to improve their skills, expand their horizons, and experiment with new forms and genres. AI can also create new opportunities and markets for human artists to showcase their work and reach new audiences. For example, an AI system can help a human artist create personalized art for different customers or platforms or generate novel art for new media or formats.

In conclusion, AI is not going to take artist jobs away but rather enrich and diversify the artistic landscape. AI can be a friend and ally of human artists rather than a foe and rival. Human artists can leverage the power of AI to enhance their creativity and productivity while maintaining their autonomy and identity. Human artists can also educate and influence AI to produce better and more ethical art while respecting their rights and values. Together, human and artificial intelligence can create a more vibrant and diverse artistic culture for everyone to enjoy.