Intervention 1:

 The AI Problem

As the years go by, there has been an ongoing discourse on the use of AI for art. Even though it looks cool by generating anything that comes to mind by putting it in AI generators; one has to ask where the artwork comes from. The artwork that AI generates are other people’s artwork that are Frankenstein together making into a soulless piece. The artwork that AI generates comes with many errors and inconsistencies, for example, the hands and feet always come out deformed and the lines in the art piece never match up. Many artists have vocalized their distaste for AI art and are openly against it for the previous problems mentioned before. Even though artists have voiced these issues, it still hasn't stopped companies from using AI art instead of paying a real artist. Many artists had voiced a fear of being replaced by a machine and not getting hired. In January of this year, a well-known tablet company, “Wacom”, had faced backlash and criticism for promoting their latest tablet with promotional art of a dragon. However, many people had noticed that the dragons that were used looked off-putting and parts of the body didn’t make any type of sense. Finally putting two and two together, people had noticed that they had used AI art for their promotion. What’s iconic about this is that “Wacom” is a popular tablet brand for artists and not paying an artist to draw their mascot and instant using a machine feels dystopian. Disney had also faced backlash from November from last year by their recreation of an old Disney Thanksgiving painting . As people looked at the recreation, many noticed how uncanny it looked, how the food on the tablet didn’t make sense, and how it overall didn’t look right. The realization that the artwork was AI generated has sparked outrage, the main issues people pointed out was that an multi-billion company couldn’t pay an artist to recreate a painting. Another fear that artists have to worry about is people posing as wanting a commission and asking for a thumbnail.The so-called buyer soon ditches the artist after they have gotten and use AI generators to finish off the artwork and sell it for themselves. There has been a way to counteract this problem by using watermarks or a contract, but that doesn't stop people. It even has been shown that AI can remove watermarks.

The main purpose of my intervention is about how AI artwork is taking over and screwing over artist. AI art isn't art, instead it takes artwork from artist and frankenstein them together; creating an art abomination. Not only does it take art, but it looks so lifeless and there’s time hands, feet, and other small details are so distorted its looks uncanny.

I'm going to be putting posters around that are openly against AI artwork:

"Our modern political terrain is a highly mediated landscape of signs and symbols, story and spectacle. For us to stage successful battles on this cultural topographical we need to observe, think, analyze, and respond creatively. We need to become artistic activists."

• Introduction-Steve Duncombe & Steve Lambert

-This quote stuck to me while making the flyers, how much I wanted to make it more detailed I thought about making a symbol that straight to the message. A broken computer screen with smoke coming out seems dramatic, but it goes along with slogan “A computer won’t replace us”. I want it to look as a way of artist putting our foot down towards AI art. 

By making an poll on my insta to get public opinions, this is what I have so far:

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“Now, think again for a moment about how most activists often build membership in their movements. How do they convince newcomers to step off the curb of indifference and join in our struggle for a new world? Activists ambush people on the street, clipboard in hand, asking people to sign petitions and donate money. We stuff fact-filled flyers and pamphlets into people’s hands. We build websites where people can access information. We organize public forums at which people can hear the truth from experts, and fantasize about having media reach of a cable news station. We dump overwhelming amounts of often depressing information about the world, and then expect the to be energized and excited about joining us.”

• The Art of Activism Chapter 1: Steve Duncombe & Steve Lambert

Using the technique of “step off the curb” to get attention for your cause, I went to my instagram to make an “ask me” and asking for people’s opinion about AI art due to me following a lot of artists and artists following me back. And putting “please it’s for class” gave me a good about of responds. There are artist who openly hate AI and said it’s “not real art”. However I did get those who said that they see it as a tool for ideas and nothing more and other find it as helpful.

Along with people hating on AI there’s some that see it as helpful on a way to help artist for ideas and concepts.

2/9/24

Before my class at 11:20, I was in the building around 10:20-30ish. I was able to place my posters around the building, to the top floor, all away down to the basement and even in the bathroom. After my class which ended a 2:00 I have noticed that someone else had also placed signs that were openly against AI. So far I don't know who is the individuals are, but hopefully I can so I can also get their opinions on AI art.

( Artists Unite)

2/11/24

After coming back to the building on Monday, all of my posters and same with the another flyers had been taken down. There's only one that is still remaining.

(They ripped it down ;-;)

However I was lucky to interview those who were able to see my poster and get opinions on AI art. There a many who are openly against it and even told me an infuriating story of a student who was able to submit AI artwork for their BFA and it was accepted.

(Art student’s commentary)

Even though there's students who are against AI work, there are some who see it as a tool and even think it's the future of art of used correctly.

A student from the photo has even told me that another student from the school had submitted AI art for their BFA and it was allowed. The students who had heard about this were outraged (rightfully so) and said that it’s not fair and have spoken up about this. 

With the growing AI problem, many artists have been finding ways to make sure their art don’t be used without their constant.  Artists have discovered to stop AI from using their art by using a low-resolution file of their art to make it hard for the train AI models. Currently there has been a team from University of Chicago that has launched an anti-training tool called Glaze. The tool is free to use, how the tool works it pixel-level changes to images that confuses AI software that tries to read it. 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zQZenz3-ct6zIxxo3h4ZVpOuMBnNoaaM5jqmPoFQzVA/edit#slide=id.p