How will Artificial Intelligence Affect Visual Creatives?

I tried an experiment with AI recently

I had been challenged to make some images along the theme of happiness. This was a topic that hadn’t inspired me. So I turned to AI for help. I fed the prompt into the MidJourney AI image generator. And I decided to see what it would come up with if I asked it create images of happiness based on Saul Leiter and Ansel Adams.

You can see some of the images it created above. I think it certainly shows happiness and that it is in the style of Saul Leiter. Would I be worried if I was Saul Leiter? Not really.

The bottom left image is good but not perfect in my opinion. The failure to show a correct reflection shows that this is a computer-generated image and not a photograph. However, the pace of improvement is very swift and I’m sure that in 18 months’ time the quality will be vastly improved.

So what does this mean for creatives?

Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic right now. There is, rightly, a lot of concern about how it changes the creative landscape. However, we should remember that it has been doing this for many years. Many artists are already using Artificial Intelligence to generate images, even if they did not intend to.

If you make images with a smartphone, you have already entered the world of computational photography. AI has a huge part to play here. Do you use Photoshop or Lightroom? Any healing involves AI. Photoshop goes further with generative fill and now with the ability to create whole new elements for images. And it’s the same for many other editing apps.

But now it is possible to generate entire images with a few computer prompts. Do you wish to create a watercolour image of your cat in the style of Rembrandt? It takes seconds. We can create a whole new artistic world: after all, Rembrandt never used watercolours! Suddenly, the artist and the artist’s vision might seem redundant.

Commercially, this creates a problem for artists

Where many companies used to commission visuals from artists, these can now be created far more quickly and cheaply via AI. If I was relying on commercial revenues from my work, I would be highly worried.

On a more positive note, AI can help those less skilled to create their own artistic visions. Personally, I am all in favour of this. Some argue that creative pursuits should be left to those who can master the right technical skills. I prefer the democratisation of creativity, where it is open to all. For instance, I am all in favour of people using smartphones to pursue photography. AI is just another creative tool.

However, we should all remember one thing.

Artificial Intelligence has no soul

The images it creates are generated purely by the prompts of the user. To go out and react visually and emotionally to what one sees requires a human artist. And it always will do.

I think there will always be a market for personal images. If you were hoping to create standard wall art images for easy money, you have probably missed your chance. But if you are making art driven from true passion, AI will find it hard to compete.

There is one other thing to remember as well.

Using AI does not bring the same pleasure as creating art

Most artists I know love the process as much as the final image. For some it is all about being out in the landscape. Others prefer to experiment in the studio. And some enjoy the analogue process of developing film or making books or prints.

AI is irrelevant to this enjoyment. It may be a tool that can help in certain processes, but it lacks the joy that I take in seeing my surroundings and re-imagining them. It loses the pleasure of experimenting with images and seeing where the journey takes one. It will never give me the sense of achievement that I have when I have created a print that I am truly happy with.

I have cancelled my Midjourney subscription

I have seen people create beautiful images from artificial intelligence. However, I don’t think it can ever replace my personal artistic journey.