What if we could no longer recognize a human work?

The relationship between artificial intelligence and art is a complicated one. Already, the question of generative algorithms has raised all kinds of questions about what is or isn't art, and how it should be defined. What's more, its proliferation on the networks has led to all kinds of online reactions, and not always the best ones.

Michael Jones, a British woodcarver, had left his mark on the Internet with incredible creations of animals or mythical creatures such as a centaur from carved and polished logs. However, as we all know, AI gobbles up everything, including previous works. As a result, he was unpleasantly surprised to see people producing images very much inspired by, or copying, his artistic style online. Individuals invented on Facebook pages under the pretext of having created these sculptures, and who delight and interact with older people on Facebook, among others. Specialists call these "boomer traps", since it's usually this generation that likes and shares this type of post created entirely by AI.

Conversely, for the artist, more and more people are claiming that these creations he documents are fake, made by AIs. A remark that leaves Michael Jones a little bitter, although he tries to see it as a compliment. Which just goes to show the need for a "label" to clearly identify what is and isn't AI-generated. So far, however, legislation is stagnant, and watermarking technologies can be circumvented.

Running time: 3min48

Image: Manfred Loell from Pixabay