My girlfriend is an artist, and a damn good one. Now, what exactly does being an “artist” mean? Well, Merriam-Webster defines an artist as “a person who creates art (such as painting, sculpture, music, or writing) using conscious skill and creative imagination.” Clearly, our conventional definition of art takes into account conscious skill; something that AI has yet to develop [consciousness]. And honestly, I hope it never does, otherwise we are fucked. Anyways, when we think of artists nowadays we typically think of painters, musicians, or anyone who takes part in creative endeavors. So this begs the question, does the proliferation of Generative AI encourage individuals to express their creativity more fully, or does it suppress genuine, conscious expression, thereby blurring our understanding of art to the point of obscurity?

Yesterday, Adobe released Firefly, its newest Generative AI model that is coming to the suite of Adobe products, including Photoshop. As I was learning more about this incredible model, I thought to myself, “there is no way in hell that this performs the way it does in that demo video.” So, naturally, I took to Reddit ChatGPT and AI forums, and saw a few videos of people using Firefly in Photoshop (it’s in Beta right now). Without getting too into the weeds, let me just say I was in awe at the technology and the way it enhanced creation. I immediately showed my girlfriend, and she was in awe for a different reason; what does this mean from an art perspective, and what is considered “real” art versus not? As I thought more about it, I began to realize there’s much more to unpack other than a mere technological advancement. The implications of this technology are challenging the very definitions of art and creative expression, and it’s up to the individual to decide whether this will enhance or destroy art.

I don’t consider myself an artist (although I did play piano growing up), but if the latest advancements in Generative AI say anything about the conventional standards of artists themselves, then I might as well be one. Now, I don’t have to sketch out a rough image of what my mind pictures by drawing some crappy stick figures and a house. I can type, in natural language, what I’m trying to create and have it pop up on the screen in ways I couldn’t have even imagined. It’s true that art is for anyone and anyone can become an artist, however the barrier between “art” and “good art” and “amazing art”, in terms of quality, has been incredibly high for those without expressive prowess. Now, that barrier has shortened in height and someone as artistically incompetent as myself can wade in the waters of creative depth.

Look, I have absolutely no clue what these new advancements in Generative AI mean for the art community and for artists at large. I don’t know if this means that creations utilizing Generative AI are now considered fake, or if it means they are now considered “even better.” I tend to believe that new technology increases creativity as those previously intimidated by artistic expression can now indulge in the wonders of Generative formulation. And truly, I think this means anyone and everyone can become “good artists,” increasing the competitive landscape and challenging conventional and age-old definitions of what art even is. In other words, I’m all for it.