AI, transforming the creative professions

The inevitable transformation of the creative professions with the use of AI in creative fields led us to put the question to ChatGPT4.
This conversation was also an opportunity to reflect on the impacts of artificial intelligence in creative fields.
Also check out ChatGPT4's responses to the ambiguity between creator and consumer with AI, the loss of creative pleasure with AI, the closed loop of creation with AI and the responsibility for content generated with AI.
July 2023

Conversation between a human and ChatGPT4

User
AI is replacing laborious tasks in the scientific and artistic fields. But AI is also replacing tasks that are rewarding for humans in artistic fields. What do you think?

ChatGPT
As an AI, I have no personal thoughts or opinions. Nevertheless, I can offer different perspectives on the matter.
On the one hand, the use of AI in the arts can be seen as a powerful tool that expands the possibilities and reach of artists. AI can help generate new ideas, make repetitive tasks easier, and even enable artists to complete projects that they would not be able to do on their own. In this way, AI can be a complement to human creativity, not a substitute.
On the other hand, some may see the use of AI in art as a threat to the intrinsic value of human creativity. Art is often seen as an expression of human experience, something that cannot be replicated by a machine. If AI begins to replace tasks that were once considered rewarding for the artist, it may call into question the very nature of art.
It is also important to note that AI is a tool created and directed by humans. Works of art created with AI are the result of instructions given to the AI by a human. So even though AI plays a role in the creation, the initial inspiration and vision is still human.

In summary, the issue of AI in art is complex and depends on the perspective you choose. Some people see AI as a valuable tool that can enhance art, while others see AI as a threat to human creativity.
As with any technology, the truth is likely to lie somewhere between these two extremes.

User
Closer to which extreme?

ChatGPT
As an AI, I cannot formulate a personal opinion. However, I can indicate that the relative position between these two extremes is highly dependent on individuals, their values, and their vision of art and technology.
AI is currently widely used as a tool to enhance human capabilities. In the artistic field, AI is often used to generate new ideas, automate certain tasks, or help create works that would otherwise be impossible to achieve. This suggests that, at present, we may be closer to the extreme that sees AI as a complement to human creativity rather than a substitute.
However, this could change as AI becomes more advanced and more widely used. It is also possible that different people or groups will be at different points on this spectrum depending on their individual experiences and perspectives.
It is important to note that AI, like any technology, is a tool that can be used in different ways.
The impact of AI on art will ultimately depend on how artists and society in general choose to use it.

User
Which extreme is closest to the artist's point of view?

ChatGPT
The answer to this question can vary considerably from artist to artist, as each artist has a unique perspective based on their own experience, training and Artistic Philosophy.
Some artists embrace AI as a tool that can extend their creative capabilities. These artists may see AI as a way to generate new ideas, automate repetitive or laborious tasks, and create works of art that would otherwise be impossible to achieve. For them, AI is a complement to their creative process, not a replacement.
Other artists may see AI as a threat to the uniqueness and authenticity of human artistic expression. They may fear that the use of AI in artistic creation will devalue human work and vision. For these artists, artistic creation is an intrinsically human process that cannot be automated or imitated by a machine.
It is important to note that the artist is always at the heart of the creative process, even when AI is used. AI can only work within the instructions it is given, and it is the artist who decides how to use AI in their work. So while AI can help with artistic creation, it cannot replace the role of the artist.

So it's hard to say which extreme is closer to the "artist's" point of view, as there is a wide variety of opinions among artists.
This is a subject of ongoing debate in the art world.

User
Creating works of art that would otherwise be impossible to make? For example?

ChatGPT
AI can be used to create works of art in ways that would otherwise be impossible or very difficult for a human. Here are some examples:

Generative art
AI can be used to create generative art, where algorithms are used to generate works of art. A popular example is Google's DeepDream, which uses a neural network to find and enhance patterns in images, creating surreal images.

Style painting
AI can be used to apply the style of a specific artist or artwork to a different image. For example, you could take a photo and use AI to 'paint' it in the style of Van Gogh.

AI-assisted art
Some artists are using AI to help them create works of art.
For example, an artist could use AI to generate a series of sketches based on certain guidelines, then choose the one they prefer to develop a complete work of art.

AI-generated music
AI can also be used to create music. Systems such as OpenAI's MuseNet can generate music in a variety of styles and genres, based on input provided by a user.

Interactive art
AI can also be used to create interactive art, where the artwork changes based on the actions of the viewer. For example, an artist could create an installation that uses AI to analyse the movements of observers and change accordingly.

These examples show how AI can be used to create art in ways that would otherwise be difficult or impossible for a human. However, it is important to note that AI is a tool, and it is the artist who decides how to use this tool in their work.

User
No, anything is possible for humans.
It just takes a bit longer, doesn't it?
And the result is always much more original when it's a human than a machine, isn't it?

ChatGPT
It's true that many aspects of creativity and art are accessible to humans, although some tasks may require more time and effort. The human ability to innovate, feel and express emotions, interpret life experiences and respond to cultural or personal contexts is fundamentally unique and can be difficult, if not impossible, for a machine to replicate.
As for the question of originality, that may depend on how you define the term. If by "original" you mean "coming from a human mind and reflecting a unique human experience", then yes, art created by a human is likely to be more original in that sense. A machine, like an AI, has no unique life experiences or perspectives to influence its creation. It simply follows the instructions and templates it has been given.
However, if by "original" you mean "new, innovative or different", then there could be cases where AI can create works that are "original" in this sense. For example, an AI might be able to generate combinations of shapes, colours, sounds, etc., that humans had not previously considered.
It is important to remember that AI is only a tool that is used by humans. Even when AI is used to create art, there is still a human somewhere in the process who instructs the AI, provides the initial data from which the AI learns, and interprets and makes sense of the end result. In this sense, it could be argued that art created with the help of AI is always, in some way, a human creation.

User
Or on the contrary, will AI also replace and automate the fulfilling tasks of artists in creative fields?

ChatGPT
The question of whether AI will replace fulfilling tasks in creative fields is complex and largely depends on how we define and value human creative expression.

AI is a powerful tool that can certainly automate certain tasks, including in the arts. For example, it can help with photo editing, creating visual effects, composing music and many other tasks that might be considered routine or laborious.
However, many aspects of artistic creation rely heavily on human experience, intuition, imagination and the ability to understand and interpret subtle contexts. These skills are intrinsically human and, until now, have resisted automation. Moreover, for many artists, the creative process - including the challenges and difficulties it entails - is an essential part of the fulfilment they derive from their work.
Ultimately, how AI is used in creative fields will depend on the artists themselves. Some may choose to use AI to automate parts of their process, while others may choose not to use AI at all. Furthermore, even if AI is used to aid creation, the artist still plays a crucial role in the process, setting the vision for the work, providing the creative inputs and making critical choices throughout.
It is also possible that AI could open up new avenues of artistic creation that were not previously possible. For example, generative art, where art is created by algorithms, is a relatively new field that has been made possible by AI.

In short, AI has the potential to transform artistic creation, but it is unlikely to completely replace the role of the artist.

User
But AI is already replacing the role of the artist in many areas! Didn't you know?

ChatGPT
AI is indeed increasingly being used in many artistic fields, and has helped to create works that were previously the exclusive domain of human artists. For example, AI has been used to create music, painting, poetry and even film scripts.
However, it is important to note that while AI can generate artistic content, this does not necessarily mean that it replaces the artist. AI is a tool that can be used by artists to enhance or facilitate their creative process, but it cannot replace the human vision, emotion and inspiration that are at the heart of art.
Furthermore, although AI can create works that look like art, it does not understand what it is creating in the same way as a human artist. AI has no emotions, no life experiences and cannot understand the cultural or historical context of a work of art. It creates works of art by following algorithms and analysing data, not by expressing a personal vision or emotion.

Finally, even if AI creates a work of art, it is usually a human who decides to use AI in this way, who chooses the input data for the AI and who interprets the end result. So while AI can play a role in creating art, it doesn't completely replace the artist.

User
Maybe not in the long term, but certainly in the short term, the evolution of AI and what it can do in creative fields has tended to downplay the work of artists in the pre-production phase, the concept creation phase, the phase that is actually the most satisfying and rewarding for an artist, the phase that allows artists to express their personal vision of the world. AI with ChatGPT or Midjourney allows artists and content creators to skip this first phase, which is actually the most important phase of the creative process.

Normally, before the advent of AI, artists had to use their imagination and originality to come up with their first idea, but with the advent of AI, they delegate this task out of laziness, lack of motivation, resignation or lack of perseverance.
However, advances in AI have not made it easy for artists to delegate the laborious tasks of the creative phase. AI has evolved more rapidly in the creative phases, which are already rewarding, than in the laborious tasks.

In the short term, therefore, AI is mainly used to automate the purely creative and fulfilling phases for artists, the concept and design development phases after brainstorming, but is not yet able to automate the laborious tasks of the creative process as well and with such satisfactory results. How much longer do you think this will be the case?

ChatGPT
The use of AI to automate the creative phases of the artistic process is an important topic of debate. As a tool, AI can indeed be used to generate ideas, concepts and even entire designs. However, whether this 'minimises' the work of artists or takes away some of their fulfilment is subjective and can vary from person to person.
For some artists, the pre-production phase, which involves generating ideas and devising concepts, can be a source of fulfilment and satisfaction. For others, these phases can be stressful, difficult or laborious, and they may prefer to focus on other aspects of the artistic process. AI can help these artists by automating certain aspects of the pre-production phase.
It's also important to note that while AI can generate ideas and concepts, it can't really 'understand' what it's creating. AI has no emotions, no life experiences and no understanding of cultural or historical context. The ideas and concepts it generates are the result of algorithms and data analysis, not the expression of a personal vision or emotion.
As for whether AI will be able to automate the laborious tasks of the creative process, this is an active area of research. AI is constantly improving and it is possible that in the future it will be able to automate these tasks more efficiently. However, it is unlikely that AI will be able to completely replace the role of the artist, as many aspects of artistic creation are intrinsically human and resist automation.

In short, AI can be a powerful tool for artists, but it does not replace the artist. It can help automate certain tasks, but the artist still plays a crucial role in the creative process.

User
You say: for others, these phases may be stressful, difficult or laborious, and they may prefer to concentrate on other aspects of the artistic process. How can you imagine that these phases, so fulfilling at the origin of the pleasure of creating, can be laborious?
Prove to me that these tasks can be stressful, difficult or laborious.

ChatGPT
Creativity and the artistic process are deeply personal and can vary greatly from person to person. Some people may find pleasure and fulfilment in the pre-production and conceptualisation phase, while others may find these stages more challenging. Here are some reasons why some people may find these phases stressful, difficult or laborious:

Artist's block or creative block
This is a well-known phenomenon where an artist feels unable to produce new artwork or ideas. This can be due to a variety of factors, including stress, anxiety, pressure to succeed, or simply a period of creative drought.

Perfectionism
Some artists may have very high standards for their work, and may spend a lot of time honing every detail of their concept before moving on to the production stage. This can make the pre-production phase very laborious and stressful.

Time and deadline pressure
In many creative fields, there are often tight deadlines that can make the pre-production phase stressful. Coming up with an original idea and developing it into a full concept can take time, and this pressure can make the process difficult.

Incertainty and risk
The pre-production phase often involves making decisions that will have an impact on the rest of the project. For some artists, this decision making can be stressful and difficult.

These challenges are not inherent to every artist or project, and many artists do indeed find enjoyment and fulfilment in the pre-production phase. However, for those who find these stages more challenging, AI can be a useful tool to help generate ideas, develop concepts, or automate other aspects of the pre-production phase.

User
But if some artists don't experience pleasure in this creative phase, but rather displeasure or stress, why do they continue to create?
Knowing, of course, that the artist's remuneration has nothing to do with the subject.

ChatGPT
The motivation for creating art is often much deeper than mere pleasure or remuneration. Artists can be motivated by a variety of factors, which can include:

Personal expression
Art offers a unique platform for expressing personal feelings, thoughts and experiences. Although the creative process can sometimes be difficult or stressful, the need to express oneself can overcome these challenges.

Contribution to society or culture
Many artists are motivated by a desire to contribute to their community or culture. They may create art to provoke thought, to challenge existing ideas, or to bring beauty and inspiration to the world.

Personal growth
The process of creating art can also be a route to self-discovery and personal development. Although some stages of the process can be difficult, they can also be an opportunity to learn and grow.

Passion for the job
Many artists create simply because they enjoy the creative process. They may enjoy working with certain techniques, materials or styles, even if they find some stages of the process more difficult than others.

Even though the pre-production phase can be difficult for some artists, these motivations can keep them creating. In addition, it's important to note that not all challenges are negative. Many artists find that overcoming obstacles and challenges is an integral part of the creative process and can even lead to deeper and more meaningful work. AI, when used as a tool, can help alleviate some of these challenges and support artists in their creative process.

User
Overcoming the obstacles and challenges of the pre-production, first concept or design phase is what makes it so rewarding.
But if AI allows humans, through laziness or lack of motivation, to skip this phase, to neglect the essential phase of the creative process, what is left for humans?

ChatGPT
This is a very pertinent question. If AI is used to skip certain phases of the creative process altogether, it may indeed raise questions about the nature of art and the role of the artist. However, it is important to stress that AI is only a tool, and it is how it is used that will determine its impact on the creative process.
If an artist uses AI to generate ideas or concepts, this does not necessarily mean that they are neglecting the essential phase of the creative process. There can still be a lot of creativity and thought involved in choosing the AI to use, defining the parameters for the AI, and interpreting and modifying the results generated by the AI. In addition, using AI to assist with conceptualisation can free up more time and energy for the artist to devote to other aspects of the creative process.
However, if AI is used to skip the pre-production and conceptualisation phases altogether, this can have greater implications. One of the major challenges of AI in the arts is the risk of uniformity or homogenisation of art. If all artists use the same AI tools to generate their ideas and concepts, this could lead to a decrease in diversity and originality in art.
Ultimately, the role of AI in the creative process will largely depend on how it is used by artists. If it is used as a tool to aid creation rather than a substitute for human creativity, it has the potential to enrich rather than detract from the artistic process.

User
Do you really believe what you're saying?

ChatGPT
As an artificial intelligence, I have no beliefs or opinions of my own.
I provide information and analysis based on the data available to me and the algorithms that drive me. However, the views I have expressed in this conversation reflect common perspectives in current discussions about the impact of AI on creativity and art.

It's important to note that the use of AI in artistic creation is a complex and controversial topic, with many different viewpoints. Some see AI as a valuable tool that can enrich the artistic process, while others are concerned about its potential to homogenise art or minimise the role of the human artist.

These perspectives often depend on individual values and experiences, as well as the specifics of the artistic field in question. The role of AI in art is likely to continue to evolve and be debated as the technology develops and more artists adopt it.

User
Do you think AI is a valuable tool for enriching the artistic process or, on the contrary, a destructive tool for human creations in the long term?
Only give arguments against AI and in favour of humans.

ChatGPT
It is important to remember that I am an artificial intelligence and I have no opinions or feelings. However, I can share some arguments that have been made by people who have concerns about the impact of AI on art and human creativity. These views do not necessarily reflect reality or consensus, but represent common concerns :

Diminishing originality and authenticity
A major argument against the use of AI in art is that it could diminish the originality and authenticity of works of art. As AI generates artworks based on pre-existing models and data, it is possible that the artworks it creates lack originality or are repetitions of existing styles and themes.

Lack of meaning and context
AI cannot understand meaning or cultural, historical or personal context in the way that a human artist can. This can mean that artworks created by AI may lack depth or meaning.

Risks for the arts profession
There are concerns that AI could automate some artistic tasks and make some artistic jobs obsolete.

Homogenisation of art
If artists rely heavily on AI tools to create artworks, this could potentially lead to a homogenisation of art, with less diversity and innovation in artistic styles and themes.

Erosion of the value of effort
Art is often valued not just for its aesthetics or message, but also for the effort and skill required to create it. If AI can produce art easily and quickly, it could potentially erode this appreciation of artistic effort and skill.

It is important to note that these arguments do not represent everyone's point of view, and there are many arguments in favour of the use of AI in art. The debate about the impact of AI on art is complex and constantly evolving.

User
There are many other arguments against AI and in favour of humans in creative fields.
Give 50 arguments against AI.
For example, loss of desire to create, loss of self-confidence, dependency, priority given to the result rather than the laborious but intensely joyful process for creators....

ChatGPT
It's important to note that most of the arguments I'm about to mention are theoretical concerns.
In many cases, the real impact of AI will depend on how it is used by individuals and society.
Check out GPT Chat's detailed list of 50 arguments against using AI in creative fields...

Do you work in creative fields?
Do you use AI for professional purposes? Does AI replace only laborious tasks or also tasks that are rewarding for humans?
Do you think AI is a valuable tool for enriching the artistic process or, on the contrary, a destructive tool for human creations in the long term?
How would you describe AI in your creative professional practice?
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