ART Forum with Dr Richard Dunlop

Is artificial intelligence (“AI)” coming for art and artists, and will it replace both? The answer to the question largely depends on what is understood as art.

ChatGPT is a “large language model” that has assisted politicians deliver computer-generated speeches to parliament, assisted people plan their diets and exercise regimes, and terrified universities over how they will be able to recognize “cheating.”

There are also “art bots” (text-to-image AI) that draw upon a large database of artworks to create images based on human requests.

Can an artist’s style (e.g. Monet’s late style) be considered a large language model which can be reduced to its atoms, and then re-assembled into something new that resembles a Monet? 

Could you ask a Chatbot to get your back garden in Meander Valley to look like Jeff Koons’ Puppy, and if so, is it by Jeff Koons or even by you? Can AI get close to discovering the very essence of what art is, and why it appeals to people? Possibly, but in the short term, I don’t think so, but it very much depends on how and what you accept as art.

Art will not cease to be made by humans, but the good stuff might be hard to recognize at first, as always.

If only a few of the promises of the future of the benefits of artificially intelligent devices hold true, we will soon have far more leisure time to create art works of some sort or other to entertain, guide or impress others.

As art is an innate human impulse, so it has proven to be impossible to fully suppress.

It may be the last drive to go perhaps, the problem-solving creative streak of humans, in an apocalyptic sci-fi movie.

Prisoners decorate the walls of their cells, or even their bodies for something new to look at, and for decorative protection.

AI platforms (and there are a few of them now) are based on large databases of information and specific algorithms which are rigorous, but limited, and cannot tell the difference between fact and fiction.

All art is fiction. If the language model is not very exciting or capable of drilling deep, what it generates will reflect that limitation.

High hopes are being placed on the potential of AI to do all manner of tasks more efficiently than humans, and we are at the infant stage of this developmental trajectory.

The expressions of fears closely resemble those associated with the introduction of Excel, calculators and even computers into schools and offices.

Just to be sure, however, I asked Jasper AI, ChatGPT and Craiyon to undertake two straightforward requests:

Create a painting in the style of Monet which depicts an albino platypus called Moby by the Meander River, Deloraine suitable for ages 6-12.

Did Lidia Thorpe watch far too much Vikings and Games of Thrones during the long Melbourne COVID lockdown of 2021?

To see the results, viewed at the readers’ own risk and pleasure, you can use the same search words with various free AI platforms, which are multiplying at an exponential pace.

This month’s Artforum challenge: Try out www.craiyon.com,or one of its text-to-image rivals while they are still subscription-free, to create some images based on your directions.

The author, a professional artist www.richarddunlop.com.au is on a gap year.