TLDR:
AI tools have become the internet’s favorite game for interactive art, despite concerns about bland output. Art by algorithm has a rich history, but the focus should be on how AI can be art rather than whether AI can make art. Interactive AI systems, such as chatbots and AI Dungeon, offer a unique human-directed experience that showcases the potential of AI-based art. Collaboration between artists and AI platforms, such as Artbreeder, is key to pushing the boundaries of the field. While AI-generated illustrations and novels may feel lackluster, interactive tools present a positive future for artificial intelligence and art.
Main Article:
The recent explosion of chatbots and text-to-image generators has sparked concerns among artists about the devaluation of the creative process and monetary loss. However, despite the disappointing output of AI tools, the process of creating and sharing with these tools has become a popular internet phenomenon. Artists fear being replaced by cheap AI software, but the focus on mashing together styles and ideas holds promise for AI-based art.
Art by algorithm has a long history, from Oulipo literature to the procedural generation of video games like No Man’s Sky. Some AI projects are clearly art, particularly those that involve interactive AI systems rather than static output. Platforms like Artbreeder appeal to artists with tools for collaboration and fine-grained control. While much of the AI-generated media online may seem indifferent or novel, the focus should be on how AI can be used creatively rather than just whether it can make art.
Interactive AI systems like chatbots and AI Dungeon offer a more human-directed experience that is difficult for a human designer to manage alone. These tools, along with collaborative platforms like Artbreeder, showcase the potential for AI-based art. While AI-generated illustrations and novels may fall short of real human effort, the interactive nature of these tools provides a low-stakes opportunity to explore the strengths and limitations of AI systems.