The Human Element in AI Art: A Contrarian Perspective on Ted Chiang’s View
In his recent essay “Why A.I. Isn’t Going to Make Art” for The New Yorker, Ted Chiang presents a cautious, if not skeptical, view of artificial intelligence’s role in art, suggesting that AI cannot truly create art because it lacks the capacity to make nuanced decisions and lacks intentionality.
However, this perspective may be overlooking the broader potential of AI in the art world, particularly when it is consistently guided by human creativity, artistry, and intention.
The Role of Human Choice in AI Art
Ted Chiang argues that art is about making choices, and that AI, which processes inputs based on vast datasets and algorithms, inherently lacks this capability. He posits that because AI Art involves fewer choices by the creator, it lacks the depth and intention of human-made art. This view, however, underestimates the extent to which human artists are integral to the AI Art creation process, because AI Art is human-made.
AI tools such as DALL-E, Midjourney, Runway, and ChatGPT are not standalone artists but instruments that require human intention and operation. The choices an artist makes in conceptualizing, formulating a prompt, adjusting parameters, and selecting the final output from multiple iterations involve a high degree of creativity and decision-making. These tools extend an artist’s capability to explore new aesthetic territories and conceptual ideas that might be impossible or impractical to realize with traditional methods.
The Evolution of Artistic Media
Throughout history, new technologies have always influenced art. Initially viewed merely as a mechanical recording device, photography evolved into a rich artistic medium as artists explored its potential beyond simple replication of reality. Similarly, digital tools and AI are emerging as new mediums through which artists can express themselves. Just as darkroom techniques in film photography were mastered, digital tools are being refined by artists to create works that are as intentional and nuanced as those created with brushes, paint, ink, and even CGI.
AI as a Collaborative Partner
Ted Chiang’s view that AI Art lacks human intention overlooks the potential of AI as a collaborative partner in the creative process. Artists like Refik Anadol have utilized AI to parse large datasets and create visually stunning works that reflect both the artist’s vision and the machine’s unique processing capabilities. In these collaborations, AI does not diminish the artist’s role but rather expands it, enabling the creation of complex, layered works that respond to and reinterpret the human condition in innovative ways.
The Potential for Personalization and Experimentation
AI Art tools allow for an unprecedented level of personalization and experimentation. Artists can tweak ideas, algorithms, and inputs to produce unique works that respond to their evolving artistic inquiries. The iterative process, which Ted Chiang critiques as detached in AI systems, can actually be a deeply involved and nuanced exploration of imagination, form, color, and composition.
While it’s undeniable that AI functions differently from traditional artists, its integration into the art world represents an expansion of the tools at an artist’s disposal, rather than a reduction of artistic value. AI tools do not replace artists; instead, they serve as new instruments in the creative process, presenting both challenges and opportunities. The true value of AI in art isn’t about supplanting human creativity, but rather enhancing and broadening artists’ expressive capabilities. When AI’s technology is melded with an artist’s vision, the resulting art can possess as much depth and significance as works created by conventional means. Consequently, AI should not be viewed as a threat to artistic authenticity but rather as an evolution of the creative tools that have continuously propelled artistic innovation. This perspective corrects the misconception in the title “Why A.I. Isn’t Going to Make Art,” by emphasizing that AI art remains fundamentally human-created, continuing the tradition of artistic evolution seen in both traditional and digital forms.
