not ai generated?
A comment from "unsigned_algorithm" led to an exploration whether placeholder NFTs are true AI art. Many people don't understand the distinctions between software applications and AI. We are also guilty.
On this twitter post, I noticed that “unsigned_algorithms” stated that they weren’t artificial intelligence generated; I thought they were. My ignorant categorization of AI art had a simple rule. Is the art produced on a computer?
Initially, we use the buzzy word, artificial intelligence because it was the trend. But, "unsigned_algorithms" doesn't consider themselves as AI art. They are algorithmic art. I felt confused so a moment of research needs to be conducted. If our art is generated through the computer, is it “AI driven”?
As it turns out. No, placeholder NFTs are not AI generated.
When I think about A.I. art, two artists pop in my mind, Refik Anadol and Tyler Hobbs.
Refik Anadol actually uses a neural network to create his “data sculptures” where he would treat a pigment as a data source. There is a more thorough explanation on this video.
While, Tyler Hobbs' art is based off a long-form generative art.
“... long-form generative art introduces the new demands of consistent quality and high variety, while maintaining the existing need for unity across all output from a program .”, Tyler Hobbs.
It is about creating a program that create a outputs of work that looks great throughout. The process of creating the output consistency is the artwork, not just a single output. You can read more here.
But does that answer our question. Are we AI generated art? In a sense, we all use computers to generate our art. Some more complicated, and some less. Also, our computer driven processes are what define out art.
As I was looking into the topic (which is really just a google search), Ian Bogost, a contributing writer from “The Atlantic”, wrote a great article pertaining to our dilemma, “‘Artificial Intelligence’ has Become Meaningless”. Ian explores people’s lack of distinction between software applications and true AI. When he gets into the grit of the topic, he clarifies the distinction by asking his AI researcher colleague at Georgia Tech, Charles Isbell.
The two distinctions are
1. the “computer program must learn over time”
2, “true AI is what it learns to do should be interesting enough that it takes humans some effort to learn”.
We don't meet those criteria; placeholder NFT is not AI art, it is digital art.
We must give credit where credit is due, especially if we are looking to do this in the long term.
Clearly, we didn’t know any better. Now, its time to take away those "artifical intelligence" off the landing page.