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Writer's pictureCal Harborne

AI Art... the beautiful monster born

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic in the art world for some time now, and with good reason. AI-generated art is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and many artists are worried about the implications of this technology on their work and livelihoods.



One of the main concerns among artists is the use of their work without their permission to train AI algorithms. These algorithms are designed to learn and improve by studying large amounts of data, and many artists are worried that their work is being used without their consent to help train these systems. This is particularly concerning for those who create digital art, as it is easy to copy and distribute their work online.


Another issue is the potential for AI-generated art to be sold and exhibited as if it were created by human artists. This could lead to a devaluation of human-created art, as well as confusion for buyers and collectors. Additionally, it raises questions about authorship and ownership of AI-generated art, as it is often created by algorithms rather than individual artists.


Despite these concerns, many artists have embraced AI as a tool for creating new and exciting forms of art. Some have even started to incorporate AI technology into their own practice, using it as a way to generate new ideas and explore new forms of creativity.


Additionally, some see the evolution of AI art as an opportunity to question the nature of art and what it means to be an artist in the digital age.


AI art is created using a process called Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). Here's a basic overview of how it works:

  1. First, a dataset of images is used to train the AI model. The AI learns to recognize patterns and features in the images, such as shapes and colors.

  2. When a user provides a prompt, such as a description of a desired image or a reference image, the AI uses this information to generate a new image.

  3. The AI then creates a rough version of the image, called a latent representation. This is a set of numbers that represent the general features of the image.

  4. A second part of the model, called the generator, then uses this latent representation to produce the final image. The generator uses the learned patterns and features to create an image that is similar to the prompt provided by the user.

  5. Finally, a third part of the model, called the discriminator, compares the generated image to the images in the training dataset. The discriminator's goal is to determine whether the generated image is realistic or not. If the generated image is not realistic, the generator receives feedback and adjusts the latent representation to produce a new image.

This process is repeated until the generated image is considered realistic by the discriminator. At that point, the AI art is considered complete and is output to the user.


The speed at which an AI art image can be generated depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of the prompt, the size of the training dataset, and the computing power available.



With modern computing power, it is possible to generate high-quality images relatively quickly. However, the process can still take a significant amount of time, especially if the prompt is complex and the training dataset is large.


A GAN model can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to train on a large dataset. Once the model is trained, the generation of a new image can be relatively fast, taking only a few seconds to a few minutes. However, the quality of the generated image depends on the quality of the training dataset, the complexity of the prompt, and the architecture of the GAN model.


For a high quality and high prompt-fit output, it is important to use a high-quality training dataset, a well-designed GAN model, and sufficient computational resources. With these in place, it is possible to generate high-quality images that are highly similar to the prompt provided by the user.


However, it is important to note that the use of AI in art should be done in an ethical and transparent manner. Artists should be informed and have a say in how their work is used to train AI algorithms, and there should be clear guidelines in place to ensure that AI-generated art is not sold or exhibited as if it were created by human artists.


The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the art world has raised a lot of questions and concerns, particularly when it comes to the ownership of the final artwork. The original artist, the "new" artist who created the prompt, and the owner of the AI algorithm, all have a stake in the final work and may feel a claim to it. Understanding the rights and responsibilities of each party involved is essential to ensure that the use of AI in art is done in an ethical and transparent manner.


The original artist is the creator of the artwork that is used to train the AI algorithm. They have the right to control how their work is used and displayed, including the right to give permission for their work to be used to train AI algorithms. Artists should be informed and have a say in how their work is used to train AI algorithms, and there should be clear guidelines in place to ensure that original art is not used without the artist's permission.


The "new" artist, who creates the prompt for the AI algorithm, is responsible for the direction and the artistic intent of the final work. They have the right to control the direction of the final work and the way it is displayed, but they do not own the final work. They are the ones who are responsible for the creative direction of the final work, and they should be credited for their contributions to the final work.


The owner of the AI algorithm, who created and owns the software, has the right to control the use of the algorithm and to be compensated for its use. They have the right to control how the final work is used and displayed, but they do not own the final work. They should be compensated for the use of the algorithm, but they should not be credited as the creator of the final work.


In order to ensure that the use of AI in art is done in an ethical and transparent manner, all three parties should be involved in the creation and distribution of the final work. Clear guidelines should be established to ensure that the original artist is compensated for the use of their work, the "new" artist is credited for their contributions, and the owner of the AI algorithm is compensated for the use of the software. This will ensure that all parties are treated fairly and that the final work is presented in an ethical and transparent manner.


One of the challenges in crediting the original artist in a new creation generated by AI is the sheer number of works of art that are used to train the algorithm. In many cases, the AI algorithm is trained on tens of thousands of works of art, by many different artists. This makes it almost impossible to identify or credit a single original artist.


Furthermore, the final work generated by the AI algorithm is likely to be the result of the analysis of many different works of art, each with its own unique style and influence. It is challenging to determine which specific work or artist had the greatest impact on the final product.


This raises questions about authorship and ownership of AI-generated art. If it is impossible to identify the original artist, then who should be credited as the creator of the final work? And if the final work is the result of the analysis of many different works of art, should the creators of all of those works be credited as well?


One possible solution to this problem is to establish a system of licensing and royalties for the use of AI-generated art. This would ensure that all of the artists whose work was used to train the algorithm are compensated for their contributions, even if it is impossible to identify them individually. Additionally, this would provide a clear framework for determining ownership and control of AI-generated art.


Another possible option is to include a disclaimer when displaying or selling the AI-generated art, stating that it was created using the analysis of multiple works of art, and that the creators of those works are not credited individually.


Retrospectively identifying and recognizing artists whose work has been used to train AI algorithms can be a significant challenge. This is particularly true for artists who did not consent to their work being used in this manner. The main challenges include:

  1. Lack of information: In many cases, the data used to train AI algorithms is collected from various sources, including the internet, and it is difficult to trace the origin of the data. In some cases, the data is collected anonymously, making it impossible to identify the original artist.

  2. No consent: Many artists whose work has been used to train AI algorithms would not have given their consent for their work to be used in this manner. This makes it difficult to identify and recognize these artists, as they may not want to be associated with the final product.

  3. Lack of transparency: There is a lack of transparency around the collection and use of data to train AI algorithms. This makes it difficult to identify and recognize the original artists whose work has been used.

  4. Complexity: The process of retrospectively identifying and recognizing artists whose work has been used to train AI algorithms is a complex and time-consuming task. It requires a significant amount of resources, including expertise in data analysis and AI technology, to be able to identify and recognize the original artists.

In order to overcome these challenges, it is essential to establish clear guidelines and regulations around the collection and use of data to train AI algorithms. This includes ensuring that artists are informed and have a say in how their work is used, and that there are clear mechanisms in place to identify and recognize the original artists whose work has been used. Additionally, transparency and accountability should be prioritized.


However, it is unlikely that the genie can be put back in the bottle at this point, as the use of AI in art and other creative fields is already well established and continues to grow. The technology is being used by artists, researchers, and businesses around the world, and it is unlikely that this will change in the near future.


One solution for future development could be the creation and use of open-source datasets that are created and maintained with the explicit consent of the creators of the images, and that respect copyright laws. Additionally, there are also some companies and organizations that offer datasets with licenses for commercial use, that could be used for AI models training.


Another option is to create a new legal framework for the use of copyrighted materials in AI training datasets, similar to how copyrighted materials are licensed for use in other contexts, such as film and television. This could include measures such as compensation for creators whose work is used, or clear guidelines for obtaining consent.


Even if a new dataset or legal framework is established, it may not be possible to retroactively compensate artists whose work has already been used in the training of AI models. This is a complex issue, and it may be difficult to identify all of the creators whose work has been used without their consent, and to determine the appropriate compensation for their use.


However, some companies and organizations are making efforts to identify and compensate creators whose work has been used in training datasets. For example, some companies are using blockchain technology to trace the origin of images used in training datasets and ensure that compensation is paid to the appropriate creators.


Additionally, some artists and creators are taking legal action to protect their rights and seek compensation for the unauthorized use of their work. While it is a slow process and the outcome is uncertain, this may provide some measure of redress for affected artists.

In the future, it's important to consider the rights and concerns of creators in the development of AI models, and to establish clear guidelines for obtaining consent and providing compensation. This will help ensure that the creative community is fairly compensated for the use of their work in the training of AI models, and that the technology continues to evolve in an ethical and sustainable manner.

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