News/The Arts
Researchers use AI to create 3D model from a 134 year old photo
The emergence of sophisticated AI technology is enabling researchers to reconstruct ancient artifacts from historical photographs, offering new possibilities for archaeological preservation and cultural heritage studies. Breakthrough Technology: A research team at Ritsumeikan University has developed an innovative neural network capable of creating detailed 3D models from single 2D photographs. Led by Professor Satoshi Tanaka and Dr. Jiao Pan, the team successfully reconstructed an ancient stone relief from the Borobudur Temple in Indonesia The relief, which depicts people in traditional attire against a backdrop of trees and architecture, was photographed in black and white 134 years ago before being covered...
read Nov 11, 2024Microsoft, The Vatican partner on AI-powered digital replica of St. Peter’s Basilica
The Vatican and Microsoft have partnered to create an AI-powered digital replica of St. Peter's Basilica, marking a significant advancement in the intersection of technology and cultural preservation. Project overview and scope: The digital twin initiative represents a comprehensive effort to capture and recreate one of Christianity's most important monuments in virtual form. Over 400,000 high-resolution images were captured using drones, cameras, and lasers during a dedicated month-long documentation period The project required processing 22 petabytes of data, equivalent to five million DVDs worth of information The technology combines advanced photogrammetry and artificial intelligence to create a detailed 3D model...
read Nov 9, 2024AI-generated tattoo designs: More efficient art or soulless creations?
AI-generated tattoos spark controversy: The use of artificial intelligence to create tattoo designs is causing debate in the tattoo community, with some artists and clients expressing concerns about authenticity and artistic integrity. A Helsinki resident, Kaarina Vuorinen, was shocked to learn mid-session that her tattoo artist had used AI to generate her gothic sword tattoo design. Vuorinen ultimately allowed the artist to complete the piece but felt disappointed, stating that while the tattoo is "pretty," it "doesn't have a soul." The incident highlights a growing trend of using AI image generators in tattoo design, which has led to mixed reactions...
read Nov 9, 2024How Museums can embrace generative AI to enhance visitor experiences
The AI revolution in cultural institutions: Museums and other cultural organizations are exploring specialized AI tools to address longstanding issues and enhance their operations beyond general-purpose applications. The Transforming Collections research project, part of the Towards a National Collection program in the UK, aimed to develop machine learning solutions tailored to the specific needs of cultural institutions. Professor Mick Grierson from the University of the Arts London's Creative Computing Institute led the research, which focused on creating AI tools that can be customized and easily used by museum staff. Interdisciplinary collaboration is key: The development of effective AI solutions for...
read Nov 9, 2024Japanese artist resurrects Prometheus to explore AI dystopia
AI-inspired artwork explores technological dystopia: Japanese artist Meiro Koizumi's latest exhibition, "Altars of Prometheus," delves into the potential dangers of artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity. Koizumi's new show, set to open at Tokyo's Mujin-to Production gallery, serves as a sculptural coda to his virtual reality Prometheus Trilogy. The artist's previous works in the trilogy examined how technology can be used without allowing it to control us, using themes from Greek mythology. This latest installation marks a shift from Koizumi's usual time-based media to more tangible, sculptural elements. Artistic inspiration and influences: Koizumi draws from a diverse range of...
read Nov 9, 2024Pulitzer-winning playwright to discuss AI at FutureIT New York event
AI's cultural impact beyond technology: Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar's new Broadway play, McNeal, highlights the growing influence of artificial intelligence on the broader cultural landscape. Akhtar's play, starring Robert Downey Jr., explores the creative opportunities and potential human costs of AI technology in the arts. The New York Times theater critic Jesse Green described the play as "a thought experiment about art and A.I." that pits "the pen vs. the pixel." This cultural exploration of AI demonstrates how the technology's impact extends far beyond the realm of CIOs, CTOs, and other technology leaders. FutureIT New York conference spotlight: Akhtar...
read Nov 8, 2024AI-generated Alan Turing portrait fetches $1.3m at auction
AI-generated artwork makes history: A painting of Alan Turing created by an AI robot has sold for a record-breaking $1.3 million at a Sotheby's auction, significantly exceeding initial estimates. The digital artwork, titled "A.I. God," received 27 bids and was originally expected to sell for between $120,000 and $180,000. This sale marks the first time a humanoid robot artist's work has been sold at auction, establishing a new benchmark in the global art market. Subject of the portrait: Alan Turing, a pioneering mathematician and computer scientist, is widely regarded as the father of artificial intelligence. Turing played a crucial role...
read Nov 6, 2024AI image tools need as few as 200 samples to replicate any artist’s style
AI image generation reaches new milestone: Recent research from the University of Washington and the Allen Institute for AI has uncovered a surprisingly low threshold for AI models to effectively replicate human faces and art styles. Key findings: The study reveals that AI models can accurately reproduce likenesses and styles with as few as 200 to 600 sample images, challenging previous assumptions about AI training requirements and copyright implications. Researchers developed a formula called MIMETIC 2 to quantify AI imitation capabilities. A live imitation evaluator was created to demonstrate the formula's effectiveness using real person images and a slider interface....
read Nov 5, 2024Why art auction houses are embracing AI
AI revolutionizes auction house operations: Artificial intelligence is significantly enhancing translation and data processing services in the art market, particularly benefiting auction houses with international reach. Julia Marie Wendl, CEO of Kunst-Auktionhaus Wendl, notes that AI's self-learning capabilities have improved the accuracy of art-specific translations, reducing reliance on staff for manual checks. Antoine de Rochefort, head of Drouot.com, highlights AI's crucial role in managing large volumes of data, including automated categorization of items from numerous partner vendors. AI-enhanced services are particularly valuable for platforms offering a wide array of items, helping to quickly direct users to products and provide content...
read Nov 4, 2024Dutch artist to wed her AI hologram boyfriend at Rotterdam museum
The future of relationships: Dutch performance artist Alicia Framis is set to marry her AI hologram boyfriend, Ailex, at Rotterdam's Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen on November 9, 2024, as part of her latest project exploring posthumanism and human-AI relationships. The project, titled "Hybrid Couple," investigates the practicalities and implications of increasingly intimate relationships between humans and artificial intelligence. Framis may become the first woman to marry a pixelated entity, following the lead of Akihiko Kondo, who married a virtual character in 2018. The artist's interest in unconventional relationships dates back to her 1996 project "Cinema Solo," which documented her life...
read Nov 1, 2024Why critics believe AI threatens the future of digital folk art
The rise of AI-generated content challenges creators: The emergence of generative AI is reshaping the content landscape, potentially threatening the role of human creators in an already competitive attention economy. A recent report indicates that 65% of teenagers and young adults aged 14-24 now identify as creators, highlighting the popularity of content creation. The advent of AI-generated content raises questions about the future viability of human content creators in a world where personalized content can be produced at scale. Parallels can be drawn between the impact of the first Industrial Revolution on folk art and the potential effects of generative...
read Oct 31, 2024AI is authenticating artworks for a Swiss auction house
AI Authentication in Art Market: A Groundbreaking Move: A Swiss auction house is set to offer artworks authenticated by artificial intelligence, potentially marking a significant shift in how art is verified and sold. The pioneering auction: Germann auction house in Zürich will be the first to offer AI-authenticated works for sale, showcasing pieces from the collection of the late curator Martin Kunz. Three works by renowned artists Louise Bourgeois, Marianne von Werefkin, and Mimmo Paladino will be auctioned with AI authenticity certificates. The certificates are issued by Art Recognition, a Swiss company specializing in AI-based art authentication. This move challenges...
read Oct 31, 2024MIT launches postdoc program to advance AI across disciplines
Advancing AI across disciplines: MIT launches new postdoc program: The MIT Schwarzman College of Computing has introduced the Tayebati Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, aimed at supporting research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and specific scientific and artistic disciplines. Program overview and focus: The program will support up to six postdocs for a one-year term, with the possibility of renewal for a second year. Research areas include biology/bioengineering, brain and cognitive sciences, chemistry/chemical engineering, materials science and engineering, physics, and music composition and performance. Each fellow will have faculty mentors in both their disciplinary area and AI, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Funding...
read Oct 29, 2024Human writers still outperform ChatGPT in creativity, study finds
Humans outperform AI in creative writing, for now: A recent study by UC Berkeley researcher Nina Beguš reveals that human-written stories are more creative and nuanced than those generated by AI, though AI's capabilities are rapidly advancing. Beguš, a lecturer in UC Berkeley's School of Information and Department of History, conducted a comparative study between hundreds of human participants and AI platforms like ChatGPT and Llama. The study, published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, offers insights into the current limitations of generative AI tools in creative writing. Study methodology and key findings: Beguš used a common storytelling structure based...
read Oct 28, 2024AI robot’s painting may sell for $120,000 at Sotheby’s auction
AI-Generated Art Enters the Auction Scene: Sotheby's is set to make history by offering its first artwork created by a humanoid robot using artificial intelligence, challenging traditional notions of art and authorship. The piece, titled "A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing (2024)," was created by Ai-Da Robot, a project developed by British gallerist Aidan Meller. The painting is estimated to fetch between $120,000 and $180,000 at the auction scheduled for October 31, 2024. Sotheby's will accept cryptocurrency as payment for the artwork, highlighting the intersection of cutting-edge technology and the art market. The Artist Behind the Artwork: Ai-Da Robot represents...
read Oct 28, 2024AI scams have come for knitters — why it matters beyond the world of crafting
AI-generated scams target lucrative knitting and crochet industry: Artificial intelligence is being used to create fake knitting and crochet patterns, causing frustration and financial loss for unsuspecting crafters in a multibillion-dollar industry. The knitting and crochet community, with millions of practitioners spending billions annually, has become an attractive target for scammers leveraging AI technology. AI-generated patterns often contain flaws that may not be immediately apparent, leading crafters to waste time, money, and materials on projects that ultimately fail. These scams highlight the broader issue of AI being used to mass-produce fake or flawed content across various domains, potentially impacting other...
read Oct 25, 2024Why filmmaker Tim Burton thinks AI is ‘disturbing and scary’
AI concerns and creative legacy: Renowned director Tim Burton expresses apprehension about artificial intelligence while a new exhibition in London celebrates his extensive body of work and unique artistic vision. Burton describes AI as "disturbing and scary," noting that it gives him a "weird sort of scary feeling inside." The director's comments come as "The World of Tim Burton," a comprehensive exhibition featuring 600 pieces from his personal archive and film projects, opens at London's Design Museum. The exhibition has already broken advance ticket sale records for the museum, with 32,000 tickets sold before its opening. Artistic process and creative...
read Oct 23, 2024ABBA, Radiohead among creative group who sign AI protest letter
AI and creative works: A growing controversy: Musicians, actors, and authors have united in a protest against the unauthorized use of their artistic works to train artificial intelligence systems, highlighting the escalating tension between creative industries and AI technology. ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, The Cure's Robert Smith, and Radiohead members, including Thom Yorke, are among the thousands of artists who signed a petition released on Tuesday. The letter warns against the "unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI," describing it as a "major, unjust threat" to artists' livelihoods. Notable signatories also include Nobel Prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro and actors...
read Oct 22, 2024Sotheby’s to make history with auction of first robot-created artwork
AI-created artwork hits auction block: Sotheby's is set to make history by auctioning the first artwork created by a humanoid robot using artificial intelligence algorithms. The piece, titled "A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing" (2024), was created by the humanoid robot artist Ai-Da and will be sold on October 31. The 64-inch by 90-inch mixed media canvas portrait of mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing has an estimate of $120,000 to $180,000, with a third-party guarantee. [caption id="attachment_27449" align="alignright" width="379"] Ai-Da Robot (Aidan Meller), A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing, 2024. Courtesy of Sotheby’s.[/caption] The artist behind the machine: Ai-Da,...
read Oct 22, 2024AI art: The end of creativity or the rise of a new class of artists?
The AI art revolution: Artificial intelligence is reshaping the art world, challenging traditional notions of creativity and raising questions about the future of human artistic expression. AI-generated artworks, including paintings, images, and sculptures, are gaining recognition and selling for substantial sums, prompting a reevaluation of what constitutes art and who can create it. The emergence of AI art draws parallels to historical artistic movements that pushed boundaries and redefined art, such as Marcel Duchamp's controversial "Fountain" sculpture. Philosophers and art experts argue that if unconventional pieces like Duchamp's urinal can be considered art, then AI-generated works should also be eligible...
read Oct 18, 2024Dana-Fiona Armour wins Sigg Prize for art that integrates AI
AI-powered art award celebrates innovative exploration of future ecology: The inaugural Sigg Art Prize, focused on integrating artificial intelligence in art, has been awarded to German artist-researcher Dana-Fiona Armour for her thought-provoking work "Alvinella Ophia." Prize details and winner's work: The Sigg Art Foundation, founded by Swiss tech entrepreneur Pierre Sigg, presented the €10,000 award at a ceremony in London. Armour's winning piece, "Alvinella Ophis," is a 3D-animated video installation that blends biotechnology, AI, and contemporary art. The work depicts a hybrid serpent creature, combining a snake and a deep-sea Pompeii worm, exploring a dystopian "future desert" devastated by ecological...
read Oct 12, 2024Theresa Reiwer wins top award at Lumen Prize for AI-focused installation
Spotlight on digital art innovation: The 13th annual Lumen Prize, the world's leading award for technology-created art, showcased groundbreaking works across nine categories, highlighting the intersection of art, technology, and societal issues. German artist Theresa Reiwer won the top Gold Award for her immersive AI-focused installation "Decoding Bias," which explores ethics in artificial intelligence. The awards ceremony, held in London, featured winners selected from nearly 2,000 entries from 62 countries, emphasizing the global reach of digital art. This year's event introduced the Carla Rapoport Award, honoring the prize's founder and recognizing work that explores underrepresented perspectives. Diverse artistic expressions: The...
read Oct 11, 2024AI-generated art takes center stage at Frieze London
AI and Technology Redefine Art at Frieze London: The 2024 Frieze London art fair showcases groundbreaking digital artworks that blend artificial intelligence, multimedia installations, and interactive experiences, pushing the boundaries of contemporary art. Immersive video art explores climate change: John Akomfrah's "Becoming Wind" (2023) offers a thought-provoking experience at the LG OLED Lounge. The five-channel video piece, displayed on OLED screens with surround sound, meditates on themes of the Garden of Eden, human loss, and climate change effects. The 30-minute sequence combines monochromatic and full-color clips of diverse landscapes and urban scenes, interwoven with evolving text statements. The installation provides...
read Oct 9, 2024London aims to become global digital art hub
Digital art's growing prominence in London: The city's diverse art ecosystem is positioning itself as a global hub for digital art, catalyzed by recent technological advancements and increased public interest. Frieze London art fair and Tate Modern's "Electric Dreams" exhibition are showcasing a range of digital artworks, from immersive environments to AI-generated pieces, highlighting the medium's evolution and current relevance. The Victoria and Albert Museum's first Digital Art Season and the upcoming SXSW London in 2025 further underscore the city's commitment to embracing and promoting digital art forms. Historical context and academic foundations: London's journey as a digital art center...
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