As someone who has been in digital illustration spaces online long before genAI, I’m not surprised at all. There was absolutely no shortage of people who just reposted people’s work with absolutely no credit whether they were impersonating artist themselves or just posting a bunch of different peoples work to farm engagement. So many of these accounts were often getting more likes, reblogs, retweets, etc than the original artists who were also active online. On top of that you also had people who would complain about the cost of commissions for completely personalized works. There’s also the fact that if you lock your art behind a patreon, you still have to worry about people leaking it elsewhere. So, I’m not surprised gen AI is taking off the way it is because I’ve consistently seen regular people try and take the artist out of the equation or devalue the labor it takes to get to the final product.
Hey, Kim! I haven't watched this video yet but the title reminds me of a comment I wanted to leave on another recently posted video.
Therein you note that people's skill for producing aesthetically pleasing media has improved (the CapCut of it all) AND we are getting dumber as we rely more on AI.
I've been trying to square these two things -- that we have a better aesthetic eye yet worsened art production. Do you have any thoughts? Is it simply that we're better at making short-form videos but poor with all other types of media creation?
This is a great question, and I'm gonna have to think about it some more. But my instinct is that people getting better at the mechanics of content production that pleases algorithms does not mean they have a deeper appreciation for art making. But there is an aesthetic pattern matching happening that people are getting more adept at.
The point you made in the beginning about ChatGPT being supplemental and only as good as what the user already knows is so spot on!
I’m a computational modeler that works at the intersection of mathematics, biology, and computer science and my field has been having the same realization. When we ask it things we know the answer to, it’s quite obvious where’s it wrong. And if you ask for code without knowing what you’re trying to do, it can steer you in the wrong direction! Some base line knowledge and skepticism is necessary when using these LLMs.
So glad I grew up in the “computer class” generation where we learned the value of credible sources and internet safety.
I'm a painter and this really hit home for me. I think people love art, but they do not care about artists. Like when Spotify changed its platform so that most artists would make pennies (if that!) off the number of streams they got. Musicians were outspoken about how this would hurt them, but the public hardly batted an eye.
And recently in Oakland the organizers of the First Fridays art festival issued an apology for using AI to create an event poster rather than hiring an artist. The comments on the organization's Instagram page were telling: loads of comments telling the organizers they had no need to apologize, or telling artists they charge too much and should work for free. People love consuming art, but the people who make art are facing a backlash for trying to make a living.
Omg have you read careless people yet? You said something that reminded me… actually I only just finished that book and I’m seeing it everywhere in the careless profit driven ceo that don’t care about the public. Anyway I recommend it.
This is why I've always appreciated Beyoncé's & other artists bts documentaries because you can really see how her and her team work hard to put this execution of album or her live shows together . It really highlights how you were saying how we as consumers see the "friction " behind the scenes . It makes me really appreciate the art that I consume.
As someone who has been in digital illustration spaces online long before genAI, I’m not surprised at all. There was absolutely no shortage of people who just reposted people’s work with absolutely no credit whether they were impersonating artist themselves or just posting a bunch of different peoples work to farm engagement. So many of these accounts were often getting more likes, reblogs, retweets, etc than the original artists who were also active online. On top of that you also had people who would complain about the cost of commissions for completely personalized works. There’s also the fact that if you lock your art behind a patreon, you still have to worry about people leaking it elsewhere. So, I’m not surprised gen AI is taking off the way it is because I’ve consistently seen regular people try and take the artist out of the equation or devalue the labor it takes to get to the final product.
Hey, Kim! I haven't watched this video yet but the title reminds me of a comment I wanted to leave on another recently posted video.
Therein you note that people's skill for producing aesthetically pleasing media has improved (the CapCut of it all) AND we are getting dumber as we rely more on AI.
I've been trying to square these two things -- that we have a better aesthetic eye yet worsened art production. Do you have any thoughts? Is it simply that we're better at making short-form videos but poor with all other types of media creation?
This is a great question, and I'm gonna have to think about it some more. But my instinct is that people getting better at the mechanics of content production that pleases algorithms does not mean they have a deeper appreciation for art making. But there is an aesthetic pattern matching happening that people are getting more adept at.
Oooh "aesthetic pattern matching" is spot-on! I'll do more rumination too haha
Thank you -- I appreciate you, your response, and your content in general :)
The point you made in the beginning about ChatGPT being supplemental and only as good as what the user already knows is so spot on!
I’m a computational modeler that works at the intersection of mathematics, biology, and computer science and my field has been having the same realization. When we ask it things we know the answer to, it’s quite obvious where’s it wrong. And if you ask for code without knowing what you’re trying to do, it can steer you in the wrong direction! Some base line knowledge and skepticism is necessary when using these LLMs.
So glad I grew up in the “computer class” generation where we learned the value of credible sources and internet safety.
“The Culture Industry”, Adorno & Horkheimer. “Society of the Spectacle”, Guy Debord.
I'm a painter and this really hit home for me. I think people love art, but they do not care about artists. Like when Spotify changed its platform so that most artists would make pennies (if that!) off the number of streams they got. Musicians were outspoken about how this would hurt them, but the public hardly batted an eye.
And recently in Oakland the organizers of the First Fridays art festival issued an apology for using AI to create an event poster rather than hiring an artist. The comments on the organization's Instagram page were telling: loads of comments telling the organizers they had no need to apologize, or telling artists they charge too much and should work for free. People love consuming art, but the people who make art are facing a backlash for trying to make a living.
Omg have you read careless people yet? You said something that reminded me… actually I only just finished that book and I’m seeing it everywhere in the careless profit driven ceo that don’t care about the public. Anyway I recommend it.
This is why I've always appreciated Beyoncé's & other artists bts documentaries because you can really see how her and her team work hard to put this execution of album or her live shows together . It really highlights how you were saying how we as consumers see the "friction " behind the scenes . It makes me really appreciate the art that I consume.
If you haven’t been recommended to read Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams and watch her subsequent interviews. https://youtu.be/TdnePm30Vm0?si=_YoWAoVMQ_LV049d
So timely!!
As a side-note it's pronounced Jibli with a soft J sound.
THANKS!