The Horror of AI Art Generators

AI art generators are on the rise and while I see the temptation to utilize them — there is always appeal in obtaining something for nothing — society will suffer as a result of no longer valuing or supporting the very artists who inspire such apps. To the writer who uses it for their book covers…how long before your AI generates custom-made stories for people and eliminates the need for your abilities? To the musician who uses it to promote their music, how long before…well, too late. Music already suffers because so much of what the record industries produce is highly digitized and true artistry is no longer required to appease the masses. And the same is happening with the art of film. CGI has eliminated a majority of practical effects which pushed filmmakers to be creative, which has in turn made film flat and lifeless as well.

Art is more than just the image itself. It’s just as much about the story behind the art. The hard work and perseverance of the artist, the growth, the struggle to find their own style, the need to push boundaries and expand creative forces beyond our comfort zone, not to mention the connection the artist has to the one commissioning the art for their project, including the discussions that took place to come to those creative choices. True art displays human emotion…in it, you see a glimmer of the pain, passion, longing, or joy that inspired the piece. With AI art there is no story, just digital deadness.

As with all things made for utility alone, there is no lasting value in it. Just like pornography, it’s all too easy to go for immediate satisfaction that requires zero investment in the moment, but rest assured, there are long-term consequences. All in all, it develops an appetite for the meaningless and mundane, which leads to a depressed culture that cannot express themselves in healthy ways. Not to mention, the output is just strange and disconnected — inhuman.