“Is artificial intelligence less than our intelligence?”
Spike Jonze, American director
With the explosive advent of ChatGPT, Midjourney, and other readily accessible A.I. programs, the use of A.I. in digital creative pursuits has become mainstream in 2023. In March, the US Copyright Office stated it will only acknowledge human-authored art, as US law says that intellectual property can be copyrighted only if it was the product of human creativity, and only acknowledges work authored by humans at present. Machines and generative AI algorithms, therefore, cannot be authors, and their outputs are not copyrightable. In August, a US judge upheld that decision and ruled that artwork generated by artificial intelligence is not eligible for copyright protection because it lacks “human involvement”.
With these being the first legal boundaries against this technological tidal wave, contemporary (human) artist Jim Klein shares his thoughts on A.I.-generated art and the implications it can present for creatives.
Can A.I.-generated art compare to human-crafted art?
Jim: With the millions of millions of synapses connecting and firing off, you can program a computer what to do but it really can’t compare to the human brain creating a work of art.
Salty by Jim Klein
For example, take my painting Salty: when I began work on this very large canvas (at 72 inches wide and 36 inches tall) I didn’t know what form the art would take or what was waiting at the end of the road. I simply and happily painted along: “I’m going to paint this background, this wash next, these colors”… the work kept evolving as I worked my pallet knife and brush.
The process is nearly magic; from my perspective the brush appears to be pouring out paint and color like a magic wand spilling spells. When the colors mix and blend, it’s apparent there’s no way I could ever duplicate this painting; it would be impossible to recreate the way the water and paint layer, absorb, and then dry just the right way.
“If three robots are asked the same question, you’ll get the same three answers. Art isn’t math.”
- Jim Klein
Where did the inspiration for the title come from?
Jim: Salty named itself after the massive saltwater crocodiles found in Australia. This particular title emerged as the paint was layered, hidden in plain sight while slowly and deliberately rising to the surface much like its namesake in murky waters.
Will A.I. create its own consciousness or become truly self-aware, à la Skynet?
Jim: I don’t believe it can because consciousness precedes technology, so how would A.I. attain something that was present before its own existence?
When folks visit the gallery, based on their unique life experiences they all see different things within the art. If three people view the same abstract painting, you’ll get three different interpretations of what the artwork means to them. These people are drawing on their individual memories, life paths, relationships, heartbreaks, and moments of joy.
If three robots are asked the same question, you’ll get the same three answers. Art isn’t math.
Salty is available on the online gallery! Click here to view
Watch Jim Klein paint Salty on Youtube!