We are currently witnessing the rapid growth of AI-generated images that are blurring the lines between reality and fiction. Programs like Midjourney and DALL·E make it possible to generate intricate and realistic images in seconds, leaving many artists questioning the value of their work. In response, a coalition of San Francisco-based artists have filed a class action lawsuit to reclaim their copyright, demanding AI creators to seek permission before using artwork to train software and offering compensation to the original artists.
Companies such as Getty Images have also been active in the fight against AI-generated art, filing lawsuits against subjects such as Stability AI who have been accused of illegally copying and processing copyrighted images. Meanwhile, tech-savvy artists are also turning to software such as “Glaze” to protect their work, creating a layer of data over images to make it impossible for AI to accurately replicate their style.
The resistance to AI image generation is not restricted to the U.S, with Netflix facing criticism from Japanese anime workers for their use of AI-generated background art in the short film, Dog and Boy and the Mauritshuis Museum being met with controversy displaying an AI-generated image in the Netherlands.
The debate rages on as to whether this technology undermines the livelihood of real life artists, or provides an exciting opportunity for people to become budding creatives. Whilst director Guillermo del Toro speaks out against this advancement, Stability AI’s founder and CEO Emad Mostaque sees their software as a tool to help enhance artists’ works and encourage more people to become creative.
Ultimately, the future of AI-generated images, and the resulting effects they will have on artists are yet to be determined. However, it is certain that AI-generated art is here to stay and how it is used will depend on the legal and technological regulations that are set against it.
