News/The Arts
Hollywood creatives warn White House that AI threatens $229 billion arts industry
Hollywood's creative community is mobilizing against AI's potential threat to copyright protections, with over 400 industry professionals warning the White House that America's AI leadership shouldn't undermine the arts. This confrontation highlights the growing tension between Silicon Valley tech giants and entertainment creatives over how AI systems should be permitted to use copyrighted works, a battle with significant economic and cultural implications for the $229 billion U.S. arts industry. The big picture: More than 400 Hollywood creatives including Guillermo del Toro, Cynthia Erivo and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are urging the federal government to maintain copyright protections against artificial intelligence in response...
read Apr 10, 2025Christie’s first AI art auction hits $728K despite copyright controversy
Christie's first dedicated AI art auction has sparked significant controversy while still achieving financial success, highlighting the complex intersection of AI-generated art and traditional art markets. The event raised important questions about copyright, artistic value, and the evolution of creative expression in the digital age, as evidenced by both the protest letter it received and the notable participation from younger collectors. The big picture: Christie's inaugural Augmented Intelligence auction totaled $728,784 (with fees), exceeding its pre-sale low estimate of $600,000 despite facing substantial opposition from nearly 6,500 artists and supporters who demanded its cancellation. Behind the numbers: The auction attracted...
read Apr 7, 2025AI analysis challenges authenticity of Rubens painting with mixed results
Artificial intelligence's role in art authentication is emerging as a contentious frontier in the centuries-old practice of determining artistic provenance. A recent AI analysis of "The Bath of Diana," long considered a copy of a lost Rubens masterpiece, has sparked fresh debate about the painting's authenticity and highlights the complex relationship between traditional connoisseurship and emerging technological approaches to art verification. The big picture: Swiss authentication startup Art Recognition claims AI analysis indicates parts of "The Bath of Diana" may have been painted by Peter Paul Rubens himself, contradicting the long-held belief that the work is merely a copy. The...
read Apr 2, 2025William Morris’s designs evolve from craft to AI—new exhibition explores the tension
A new London exhibition explores how William Morris's iconic designs have influenced everything from fashion to AI-generated art, highlighting the tension between his handcrafted ethos and modern mass production. The show, titled "Morris Mania," reflects the Victorian designer's enduring global impact while questioning how his vision of accessible beauty has been reinterpreted—and potentially distorted—in the age of digital reproduction and AI. The big picture: The William Morris Gallery is celebrating its 75th anniversary by examining how the 19th-century British designer's work has "gone viral" across cultures and technologies. The exhibition brings together original Morris works from the 1860s alongside modern...
read Mar 31, 2025AI transforms Hong Kong’s Golden Age cinema in artist’s massive facade installation
Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen's latest commission for Hong Kong's M+ museum represents a fascinating convergence of cutting-edge AI technology with nostalgic cinema. His work "Night Charades" transforms the museum's massive 110-metre facade into a canvas for reimagined scenes from Hong Kong's cinematic Golden Age, using artificial intelligence to create multiple versions of iconic moments from films by directors like John Woo and Wong Kar-wai. This project exemplifies how AI tools can be harnessed to explore cultural heritage while simultaneously creating something distinctly contemporary. The big picture: Ho's installation continues his artistic approach of using the past to explore the...
read Mar 27, 2025Preach without practice: People say they prefer human content but behave otherwise
A new study reveals a surprising gap between people's stated preferences for human-created content and their actual consumption behaviors when it comes to AI-generated stories. This discrepancy highlights important questions about the future economic impact of AI on creative industries, as consumers may claim to value human creativity while their spending and engagement patterns suggest otherwise. The big picture: Research shows that while people explicitly prefer and rate human-authored stories more highly than AI-generated ones, their willingness to invest time and money in reading these stories doesn't differ based on perceived authorship. Key details: Researchers used ChatGPT-4o to generate a short...
read Feb 25, 2025Getty Museum acquires its first ever AI-generated photo
Costa Rica's historic "pegamachos" culture, involving rural men who maintained public heterosexual identities while engaging in secret same-sex encounters, has been reimagined through artificial intelligence by photographer Matias Sauter Morera. The Getty Museum's acquisition of Morera's AI-generated photograph "Cristian en el Amor de Calle" marks the institution's first AI-created image in its permanent collection. The artistic approach: Morera chose AI generation over traditional documentary photography to protect the privacy of the real pegamachos community while preserving their stories from the 1970s and 1980s. The artist creates written narratives about the pegamachos world before generating corresponding images through AI prompts Using...
read Feb 12, 2025‘Doomers’: The new play inspired by Sam Altman’s 2023 OpenAI ouster
The new play "Doomers" draws inspiration from Sam Altman's brief removal as CEO of OpenAI in 2023, exploring the tensions surrounding artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley. The production uniquely credits AI chatbots ChatGPT and Claude as dramaturgical collaborators in its creation. The production setup: Matthew Gasda directs this crisis-driven narrative that unfolds over a single night in San Francisco, centering on the aftermath of a tech CEO's dismissal from a company called MindMesh. The story focuses on Seth, the ousted CEO played by Sam Hyrkin, as he schemes to reclaim his position while his company's board grapples with the leadership...
read Feb 11, 2025Artists protest Christie’s AI art auction in open letter
The intersection of AI-generated art and traditional art markets has reached a new flashpoint as Christie's auction house prepares for its first all-AI art auction. This development has sparked intense debate within the art community about the ethics of AI art creation and the rights of human artists whose work may have been used to train AI models. Key controversy: Christie's upcoming "Augmented Intelligence" auction, set to launch February 20, 2025, has drawn significant opposition from thousands of artists through an open letter claiming the sale promotes unauthorized use of artists' work. The auction features works by prominent AI artists...
read Feb 11, 2025Getty Museum displays AI-generated photograph in groundbreaking addition to collection
The Getty Museum in Los Angeles has made history by acquiring its first AI-generated photograph, created by queer Costa Rican artist Matias Sauter Morera. The work, titled "Cristian en el Amor de Calle," explores the hidden cultural phenomenon of "pegamachos" - cowboys from Costa Rica's Guanacaste Coast who had secret encounters with young gay men in the 1970s. The groundbreaking acquisition: The Getty Museum's photography curator Paul Martineau selected this piece for inclusion in the upcoming exhibition "The Queer Lens: A History of Photography." The image depicts two young Latino men wearing blue leather jackets with gold embellishments in a...
read Feb 10, 2025AI art auction provokes outrage as thousands sign protest letter while participating artists push back
Artificial Intelligence (AI) art has become a contentious issue in the art world, particularly regarding copyright and fair use of existing artwork to train AI models. Christie's New York's announcement of their first-ever AI art auction has sparked significant controversy within the artistic community. The controversy unfolds: Christie's New York faces substantial backlash over their upcoming Augmented Intelligence sale, which features AI-generated artwork expected to generate more than $600,000. More than 3,000 individuals have signed an open letter demanding the cancellation of the auction The sale includes works from notable artists like Refik Anadol, Harold Cohen, and Claire Silver The...
read Feb 8, 2025The new craftsmen: How AI is reshaping art’s ancient principles
As artificial intelligence changes the very nature of creative expression, we find ourselves at a fascinating crossroads where centuries-old artistic principles meet algorithmic innovation. This intersection of human craft and machine learning not only challenges our traditional understanding of creativity but also opens up unprecedented possibilities for artistic collaboration, much like how the Industrial Revolution transformed the relationship between artisans and their tools. Through an exploration of historical design movements and their modern relevance, this article examines how AI is both disrupting and enriching the fundamental theories that have guided artists and designers for generations. Historical foundations: The Arts and...
read Feb 8, 2025Oxford researchers use AI to decode ancient Greek scroll
Latest discoveries; A team of researchers has identified several ancient Greek words including terms for "foolish," "disgust," "fear," and "life" in a newly analyzed Herculaneum scroll housed at Oxford's Bodleian Libraries. The scroll, designated as PHerc. 172, shows evidence of being authored by Epicurean philosopher Philodemus based on its first-century BCE letter forms Initial analysis suggests similarities between this scroll's handwriting and other works attributed to Philodemus The text appears to be continuous throughout the entire scroll, promising substantial readable content once fully decoded Historical context; The scroll comes from the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum, a Roman town...
read Feb 7, 2025Christie’s to hold its first ever auction dedicated exclusively to AI-generated art
Initial announcement and scope: Christie's is breaking new ground with its first-ever auction dedicated exclusively to AI-generated art, featuring works spanning five decades. The "Augmented Intelligence" sale will run from February 20 to March 5, 2025 The auction includes over 20 lots from both pioneering and contemporary AI artists Only 26% of the works are digital pieces like NFTs, with the majority being physical artworks including sculptures, paintings, and prints Christie's projects the sale will generate at least $600,000 Notable artists and works: The auction showcases pieces from established AI art innovators and includes several groundbreaking interactive elements. A 12-foot-tall...
read Jan 30, 2025Top US art school adopts AI in groundbreaking partnership
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) has formed a pioneering partnership with Invoke, an AI company providing enterprise-grade generative media tools, giving students access to advanced AI-powered creation software. Partnership Overview: RISD's collaboration with Invoke represents the first major alliance between a prestigious art school and an AI image generation company. Students gain access to Invoke's premium suite of AI-powered creation tools, which are typically reserved for enterprise clients Invoke, a remote company founded in 2024 with nine employees, provides both free public versions and specialized enterprise solutions The partnership originated through RISD professor Daniel Lefcourt, whose work focuses on...
read Jan 30, 2025MIT students push boundaries of human-AI teamwork
Students from MIT's Interaction Intelligence course showcased innovative human-AI collaboration projects at the 2023 NeurIPS conference, demonstrating new ways for artificial intelligence to enhance creative expression and learning. Event Context; The 38th Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS) conference in Vancouver attracted over 16,000 attendees to witness cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning. The projects emerged from MIT course 4.043/4.044 (Interaction Intelligence), taught by Marcelo Coelho in the Department of Architecture The course explores large language objects and how AI can extend into physical applications The conference served as a prestigious venue for showcasing these innovative student projects Project...
read Jan 25, 2025AI art hides GenAI’s bigger potential, says Stanford professor
The rise of AI-generated art has ignited a debate about its ethical and cultural implications, especially after provocative remarks from Suno's CEO about the creative process. Ge Wang, a Stanford professor of Music and Computer Science, critiques the notion of AI as merely a labor-saving tool in art, highlighting the intrinsic value of the creative journey. This conversation sheds light on deeper questions about creativity, human expression, and the evolving role of AI in artistic endeavors. Core argument: Ge Wang challenges the idea that AI should serve primarily as a labor-saving tool for creative expression, arguing it misunderstands the value...
read Jan 17, 2025This new AI-powered marketplace aims to make art more accessible
The online art marketplace NALA is transforming how artists sell their work by directly connecting creators with buyers, eliminating traditional gallery gatekeepers and commissions. Platform overview: NALA's digital marketplace uses machine learning to match art buyers with artists, currently serving over 20,000 art enthusiasts and 8,500 artists. Artists can list their work directly on the platform and set their own prices, receiving 100% of their listed price Instead of taking commission from artists, NALA charges buyers an 11.5% fee on purchases The platform's AI-powered system matches artwork with potential buyers based on style preferences and budget A new feature allows...
read Jan 13, 2025Suno CEO sparks controversy with claim that music creation is no longer enjoyable
A technology CEO's controversial statement about music creation has sparked debate within the music production community. The core issue: Mikey Shulman, CEO of AI music generation company Suno, made a contentious claim that creating music is no longer enjoyable in modern times. Shulman's comments were highlighted in an interview clip discovered by 404 Media The statement appears to promote AI-generated music as an alternative to traditional recording methods Industry pushback: Music professionals and creators have strongly contested Shulman's characterization of the recording process. Critics argue that Shulman's statement demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the creative process and joy of music-making...
read Jan 10, 2025AI envisions human evolution 50,000 years into the future
OpenAI's AI tools were used to imagine human evolution across different planets, exploring how environmental factors could shape biological adaptations over 50,000 years. Project overview: The experiment combined ChatGPT's analytical capabilities with Freepik's Mystic 2.5 image generation model to visualize potential human evolutionary paths on various celestial bodies. The investigation began with Mars, where ChatGPT predicted humans would develop taller frames, weaker bones, and enhanced cardiovascular systems to adapt to the lower gravity environment After 50,000 years of isolation, these adaptations could lead to a new species classification: Homo martianus The project expanded to include Venus, Ceres, Pluto, Titan, Europa, Ganymede,...
read Jan 10, 2025New merger aims to transform art industry with AI authentication and blockchain tech
Hephaestus Analytical, a technology company specializing in art authentication through AI and chemical analysis, has acquired ArtDiscovery, combining their expertise to enhance art authentication services. The merger's significance: The combination of Hephaestus's AI-driven authentication technology and ArtDiscovery's extensive pigment database creates a powerful new force in art authentication and verification. The merged entity aims to establish the "world's highest evidentiary standards in art authentication" ArtDiscovery brings valuable resources including spectral libraries, a team of conservators, and experience working with prestigious institutions like the FBI and Sotheby's The integration promises faster processing times and improved accuracy in artwork verification Technical capabilities:...
read Jan 9, 2025Stanford researchers bring AI to theater arts in new experiment
The intersection of artificial intelligence and live theater is expanding through innovative projects at Stanford University, where Professor Michael Rau is integrating AI technologies into theatrical performances. Key innovations; Stanford professor Michael Rau is developing three distinct approaches to incorporating AI in theater productions. An AI image generator creates real-time visual alterations of live performances, projecting transformed feeds that can represent dream sequences or alternate dimensions Large language models generate spontaneous scripts based on audience suggestions, which are converted to audio and transmitted to actors via earbuds A pose analysis tool creates 3D images of actors' movements, enabling detailed study...
read Jan 6, 2025How Brooklyn Academy of Music is blazing new trails with AI-generated visual storytelling
BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) is showcasing four digital installations utilizing artificial intelligence as part of its Next Wave Festival, marking a strategic pivot toward technological innovation following recent organizational changes. The initiative's context: The Techne exhibition, featuring works from the Onassis Foundation's ONX Studio, represents BAM's effort to attract new audiences and push creative boundaries after reducing programming and staff in 2023. The showcase takes place in a black box theater at BAM's Fisher building The exhibition comprises four digital video installations, combining AI technology with artistic expression This technological focus marks a deliberate shift in BAM's programming strategy...
read Jan 3, 2025This robot artist earns more money than most humans
The fundamentals: Botto represents a new breed of AI-powered creative systems that combines machine learning with community governance to produce and sell digital artwork. Created in 2021 by German artist Mario Klingemann and partners, Botto leverages AI image generation technology similar to popular tools like Midjourney and Dall-E The system employs a sophisticated "taste model" that helps select the most aesthetically pleasing images from its outputs A community of 15,000 members, known as BottoDAO, participates in selecting which works should be minted as NFTs Financial success and market impact: Botto's recent solo exhibition at Sotheby's demonstrates growing institutional acceptance of...
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