Art In The Age Of Algorithms: A New Canvas

How AI has carved its niche in the art scene

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Is AI seriously recognized in the world of art?

Portrait of Edmond de Belamy, GANs Algorithm, Inkjet printed on Canvas, 70×70 cm, source: en.wikipedia.org

In 2018, when an AI-generated portrait was sold for $430,000 at Christie’s, a prestigious auction house, the critical milestone for AI art happened. The portrait, which looks like a blurry 18th-century painting, was hailed as the first piece of AI art to be sold at auction, sparking a media frenzy and a public debate about the nature and value of creativity. The Paris-based artistic group called Obvious didn’t know at that time that they were just a few years ahead of the massive adoption of AI art.

So, don't let the excitement fool you about this AI art. The picture wasn't just the AI doing its thing. It used code from another artist, picked by a group of humans who trained the AI. It was not all done by AI, as people were also part of this. But it’s not 2018 anymore; generative AI has become a lot more powerful and accessible. Now, AI art can be generated just by using prompts.

Mr. Rutkowski made one of these pictures; the other three were AI-generated using his name. Can you spot his original? When compared, it's hard to tell. This blurring worries him, questioning the point of artistic growth if AI and human art are the same.

The boundaries between human creativity and AI capabilities are becoming increasingly blurred in the world of art. One thing is clear - we are just scratching the surface of the potential for AI to transform and enhance the artistic process.

Let us know which one you think is the one made by Mr. Rutowski in the comments below.

AI Art on Sotheby’s