News/The Arts
Why artist Jeff Koons says he won’t use AI anytime soon
Jeff Koons, the renowned sculptor known for his monumental works, has stated he will not incorporate artificial intelligence directly into his artistic practice, preferring to focus on biological inspirations. Current stance on AI: Koons maintains a limited relationship with artificial intelligence, using it only as a visualization tool for exploring different material options in his work. He employs AI solely to preview how different materials like wood, marble, or steel might look in his designs Koons emphasizes that AI serves as a tool rather than an active creative agent in his practice Historical context: Koons's relationship with technology and manufacturing...
read Dec 30, 2024How a Bay Area artist is combining AI and dance to allay fears about robots replacing humans
San Francisco's Exploratorium artist-in-residence Catie Cuan is combining dance, robotics, and artificial intelligence to create innovative human-robot interactions and performances. Background and expertise: Catie Cuan brings a unique combination of professional dance experience and mechanical engineering expertise to her work at the Exploratorium. Cuan earned her doctorate in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, focusing her thesis on choreorobotics She describes her work as a natural fusion of her passions for mathematics and dance The Exploratorium selected Cuan as part of their 50th anniversary Artist in Residence program Current projects and innovations: During her two-year residency that began in 2023, Cuan...
read Dec 30, 2024Deconstructing the vitriol directed at AI art
The central issue: Strong opposition to AI-generated art has emerged not based on aesthetic quality, but rather as a fundamental rejection of the concept itself, reflecting deeper societal concerns about AI's role in human creativity. Real-world manifestations: Recent controversies highlight the intensity of public reaction to AI art in commercial settings. The Tedeschi Trucks Band faced backlash over potentially AI-generated concert posters, leading to public apologies and donation of profits Billy Strings encountered similar controversy when fans suspected AI involvement in merchandise design, despite his initial approval of the artwork A Toronto restaurant faced calls for boycotts merely for displaying...
read Dec 27, 2024Veteran photographer shares why 2024 was a year for creative breakthroughs
Instagram pioneer and renowned photographer Nick Knight shares his insights on technological innovation, creative censorship, and the future of artificial intelligence in art, based on his experiences throughout 2024. Key developments in 2024: Knight curated "Shadow-Ban" at SHOWStudio and contributed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's "Sleeping Beauties" exhibition, demonstrating his continued push for technological innovation in visual arts. The "Shadow-Ban" exhibition explored online censorship's impact on creative expression, featuring works from artists like Miles Greenberg and Pierre Molinier Knight collaborated with the Met to bring historical fashion pieces to life using CGI, 3D technology, and AI, creating immersive experiences...
read Dec 21, 2024Renowned female artist brings AI-generated art to Times Square
Renowned artist Laurie Simmons is bringing AI-generated art to the iconic billboards of Times Square. Project overview; "Autofiction: Moving Pictures," a three-minute synchronized art display across 92 electronic billboards in Times Square, creates an unprecedented immersive experience at the crossroads of technology and traditional art. The installation debuts on December 20, 2024, at 11:57 PM, running nightly through December 30 The display features AI-generated images of contemplative women in color-coordinated rooms, creating a meta-commentary as hundreds of viewers look up at screens showing AI women looking down at their phones The project represents a significant scaling of digital art in...
read Dec 16, 2024AI regulation in UK may give artists new ‘personality rights’
The United Kingdom is preparing significant regulatory changes to protect artists' intellectual property rights in response to the growing use of their work in AI training datasets, marking a potential shift in how creative content is governed in the AI era. Current developments: The UK government is launching a consultation on updating copyright rules for AI training content, coinciding with OpenAI's release of its Sora text-to-video generation tool. Ministers will begin discussions on Tuesday to evaluate new copyright protections for artists The proposed regulations are expected to be implemented within two years OpenAI's Sora, released December 16, can generate 20-second...
read Dec 11, 2024Takashi Murakami is using AI to breathe new life into ancient Japanese art
The fusion of historical Japanese art with artificial intelligence marks a significant milestone in the ongoing dialogue between traditional artistic practices and emerging technologies. Exhibition Overview: Renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami has unveiled his first UK solo exhibition in over 15 years at London's Gagosian gallery, featuring AI-assisted recreations of classical Japanese artworks. The centerpiece is a reimagining of Iwasa Matabei's 1615 gold leaf painting "Rakuchu Rakugai Zu Byobu," a National Treasure of Japan Murakami's version incorporates his signature flower characters and anime animals while maintaining the original's intricate depiction of Edo-period Kyoto The exhibition also features reinterpretations of works...
read Dec 4, 2024AI threatens 25% of music creators’ income, study finds
Key findings: A comprehensive study commissioned by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) reveals dramatic shifts in revenue patterns within creative industries due to AI adoption. The generative AI market for music and audiovisual content is projected to surge from €3 billion to €64 billion by 2028 Music creators face an estimated 24% reduction in revenue Audiovisual creators could see a 21% decline in earnings The combined losses for creators could reach €22 billion over five years Market impact analysis: Generative AI is poised to capture substantial market share from traditional creative sectors by 2028. AI-generated...
read Dec 4, 2024Shocking art: Artist electrocutes herself to symbolize impact of AI on creatives
The electrifying performance art piece that warns about artificial intelligence's dark potential headlines this year's Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane, showcasing groundbreaking works from across the region. Exhibition overview: The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT11) at Queensland Art Gallery features 70 artistic projects from 200 artists across 30 countries, running through April 2025. For the first time, artists from Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, and Saudi Arabia are participating in the exhibition The gallery plans to acquire nearly half of the exhibited works for its permanent collection Many projects were developed through community collaborations, particularly those from...
read Dec 3, 2024Junson Park wins AI Music Award from University of the Arts London
The intersection of artificial intelligence and traditional Korean music is breaking new ground through an innovative project at the University of the Arts London's Music-RAI Research initiative. Award and Recognition: CalArts student Junson Park has been named one of three winners of the prestigious AI Music Award from the University of the Arts London (UAL), receiving £5,000 to develop a responsible AI music project. The award is part of a 12-month initiative focused on addressing AI music tool biases that favor Western classical and pop genres The global project brings together researchers, musicians, and industry experts to promote innovation and...
read Dec 3, 2024Swiss auction house sells first AI-authenticated artwork
The art world witnessed a significant milestone as a Swiss auction house completed the first-ever sale of an artwork authenticated solely through artificial intelligence technology. Breaking new ground: Germann Auction House in Zürich partnered with AI authentication company Art Recognition to validate and sell a watercolor by Russian artist Marianne von Werefkin. The watercolor sold for nearly $17,000, exceeding its high estimate of $9,000 by almost double Two additional works at the same auction were authenticated using both AI and traditional human expertise The additional pieces, works by Louise Bourgeois and Mimmi Paladino, sold for $31,500 and $21,500 respectively [caption...
read Dec 2, 2024Manga publisher taps AI to translate Japanese comics
Manga localization is undergoing rapid transformation as Japanese startup Orange deploys Anthropic's Claude AI model to accelerate English translations, addressing the massive gap between available Japanese titles and translated versions in the US market. Market dynamics and opportunity; The US manga market, valued at $880 million in 2023 and projected to reach $3.71 billion by 2030, currently has access to only 2% of Japanese manga titles. Orange's AI-powered translation system can complete manga titles in days, compared to the traditional 2-3 month timeline for human translators The company distributes translated content through their proprietary app called emaqi The automated process...
read Dec 2, 2024What one bizarre movie about beavers implies for creativity in the AI era
The recent film "Hundreds of Beavers" stands as a unique artistic statement about human creativity and craftsmanship in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence and automated content creation. Film Overview and Style; This black-and-white silent comedy, released in 2022, blends influences from classic slapstick, animated cartoons, and video games into a distinctively handcrafted production. The story follows a Wisconsin applejack maker who turns to fur trapping after his distillery explodes, leading to increasingly absurd encounters with beavers The film draws inspiration from diverse sources including Looney Tunes, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, kung fu movies, and Super Mario Bros With...
read Nov 28, 2024How AI is transforming design and architecture
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence into design and architecture is reshaping creative workflows, professional roles, and industry capabilities while democratizing access to design tools. Current landscape: The design industry is experiencing a fundamental transformation as AI tools become increasingly sophisticated and accessible. AI-generated images and content are becoming ubiquitous across social media and professional platforms Businesses are rapidly adopting AI solutions for cost and time efficiency Traditional design roles are evolving as AI takes over routine tasks, allowing designers to focus on higher-level creative work The democratization effect: AI-powered design tools are enabling individuals without formal design training to...
read Nov 28, 2024Sora leak may be just the beginning of a new wave of AI protests
The growing tension between AI companies and artists has reached a new inflection point with recent protests against OpenAI's Sora video generation tool, highlighting broader concerns about fair compensation and ethical AI development. The immediate catalyst: OpenAI's unpaid beta testers for Sora, its new AI video generation tool, staged a protest by leaking the software and publishing an open letter criticizing the company's practices. The testers accused OpenAI of "art washing" and exploiting unpaid labor from hundreds of artists providing feedback and testing OpenAI defended its approach, stating that participation was voluntary and highlighting its support for artists through grants...
read Nov 27, 2024What we know about the artists who leaked OpenAI’s Sora model
The tension between AI companies and artists has reached a new flashpoint as OpenAI faces backlash from testers of its Sora video generation platform. The incident unfolds: A group of artists calling themselves PR Puppets briefly shared public access to OpenAI's Sora video generation platform, leading to an immediate suspension of the testing program. The group posted a "Generate with Sora" access point on Hugging Face, allowing public access to OpenAI's actual Sora API Social media users quickly confirmed the authenticity of the access through the videos.openai.com domain OpenAI revoked access within hours, though many users managed to generate and...
read Nov 27, 2024Vintage digital cameras make comeback as artists seek to preserve authenticity
The resurgence of early-2000s digital cameras represents a growing movement among young photographers seeking to capture a distinctive vintage aesthetic that differs from both film photography and modern AI-altered smartphone images. The Y2K digital renaissance: A new generation of photographers is deliberately choosing outdated point-and-shoot digital cameras from the early 2000s to achieve a unique visual style characterized by imperfect, nostalgic imagery. The movement particularly values cameras with CCD sensors manufactured before 2010, prized for their distinctive "film-like" rendering of colors and light Photographers are specifically seeking out the technical limitations and quirks of these older cameras as creative tools,...
read Nov 27, 2024The latest on the Sora leak saga
The race to develop and safely deploy AI video generation technology has hit a speed bump with a significant leak of OpenAI's unreleased Sora platform. The security breach: A group of artists with early access to OpenAI's Sora AI video generator leaked their access keys on HuggingFace, prompting an immediate shutdown of the preview program. The leak occurred when artists who felt they were being used as "PR puppets" shared their access credentials in protest This unauthorized sharing forced OpenAI to revoke all early access permissions to protect the platform's integrity The incident highlights the delicate balance between gathering user...
read Nov 26, 2024AI art shared by Elon Musk raises eyebrows in creative community
The key development: Elon Musk recently shared AI-animated versions of classical paintings on his social media platform X, generating discussion about AI's capabilities in art transformation. The AI-modified artworks include famous paintings by Gustave Courbet, Jacques-Louis David, Caspar David Friedrich, and Gustave Caillebotte The animations transform static scenes into dynamic panoramas with moving figures The original AI modifications were created by a social media user @dvorahfr Technical oversight reveals AI limitations: A notable error in the AI-generated content exposed current technological constraints in artificial intelligence art modification. An observer spotted a modern car appearing in the modified version of Caillebotte's...
read Nov 23, 2024Netflix drops AI-generated poster after creator backlash
The growing tension between AI-generated art and traditional human artistry has reached a new flashpoint with Netflix's recent controversy over promotional material for its acclaimed animated series Arcane. The incident in detail: Netflix faced immediate backlash after viewers spotted AI-generated art in a promotional poster for Arcane's second season. A fan first noticed unusual hand proportions in the poster while the show was paused, prompting questions about its origin Arcane brand lead Alex Shahmiri confirmed the AI usage was a mistake and confirmed the poster's swift removal The show, produced by Riot Games and French animation studio Fortiche, has established...
read Nov 21, 20244 strategies to safeguard your artwork from AI
The rapid rise of generative AI has sparked concerns among artists about unauthorized use of their work for training AI systems, leading to legal battles and the development of protective measures. Current landscape: The ongoing conflict between artists and AI companies has intensified as more businesses replace human creativity with AI-generated content. Recent controversy emerged when Coca-Cola created a Christmas advertisement using generative AI Multiple lawsuits have been filed by artists and writers against AI companies over unauthorized data scraping Tech companies defend their practices by claiming public internet content falls under fair use Technical solutions and tools: Several defensive...
read Nov 16, 2024AI-generated poetry rates higher than human-written verse, study claims
The boundary between human and artificial creativity continues to blur as a new study reveals people's inability to distinguish between AI-generated poetry and works by renowned poets, including Shakespeare. Study methodology and scope: A research team at the University of Pittsburgh conducted a comprehensive analysis examining how people perceive and evaluate AI-generated poetry compared to human-authored works. The study involved 1,634 participants who attempted to differentiate between authentic poems and AI-generated versions Researchers used ChatGPT 3.5 to create five poems mimicking the styles of ten famous poets, including Shakespeare, Chaucer, Whitman, Dickinson, Plath, and Ginsberg A separate group of 696...
read Nov 13, 2024The AI lab defending artists against exploitative practices in AI
The development of AI protection tools by researchers has sparked a significant shift in how artists can defend their work against unauthorized use in AI training datasets, marking a key development in the ongoing debate over AI and creative rights. The innovation breakthrough: The University of Chicago's SAND Lab has created two groundbreaking tools that give artists more control over how their work can be used by AI systems. Glaze, which has seen over 4 million downloads since March 2023, applies a protective layer to images that prevents AI systems from accurately learning and replicating an artist's unique style Nightshade...
read Nov 13, 2024Technology, art and the creative community’s mixed reactions to AI
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has sparked a creative renaissance in San Francisco's art and entertainment scene, with artists exploring AI's impact through various mediums from interactive installations to theatrical performances. The cultural shift: AI technology has evolved from a distant sci-fi concept to a tangible force shaping contemporary creative expression in unexpected ways. Artists are now incorporating AI themes into their work, addressing both the technology's promise and its potential threats to creative industries The city of San Francisco, as a tech hub, has become a natural breeding ground for AI-inspired art and entertainment Creative professionals are finding...
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