Is AI a Threat to Artists’ Jobs? A 2023 Updated View

AI related topics have been going viral the past few months. Just think of the many ways people have been trying out ChatGPT and sharing their experiences. Some people are concerned. Among them: artists and digital art enthusiasts. But should they be?

A Backward Glance

Rewind a few years and the general consensus was that AI can do certain tasks that artists perform but that it definitely doesn’t live up to what humans can deliver—especially in terms of originality. Also, as mentioned in our previous article on the topic of whether artist will lose their jobs to AI, the technology was ideal to streamline certain processes.

Since then a lot has happened, so it is smart for artists to familiarize themselves with the latest developments.

What’s Happening Now?

Technology changes at an impressive pace and AI is involved in many more tasks—in business and artistic environments—than 5 years ago. Here are some characteristics relevant to the artistic industry today.

Award Winning AI Art

AI was able to produce stunning paintings a few years ago already. It wasn’t a once-off occurrence, because AI-generated images are even taking prizes at events like state fairs. Jason Allen’s AI-Generated work  “Théâtre D’opéra Spatial,” won the first prize in the digital category at the Colorado State Fair. This shows the abilities of AI and what those comfortable using these tools can achieve.

AI in Multiple Artforms

AI isn’t only involved in activities relating to visual art, since it can even generate a voice that sounds very human, which makes the technology appropriate for narrating work. Furthermore, AI tools like ChatGPT can generate articles or help copywriters create content faster, by assisting with research processes. However, AI-created poetry isn’t of very high quality yet, so the tech is still no match for humans in all industries.

New Capabilities

AI has become so advanced that it can now generate images that are valuable in various niches. Apart from AI-generated paintings, the tech can produce photorealistic images that seem very real, simply by manipulating existing photos and images.

Easy Solutions and Fast Output

AI is also a welcome option for projects such as poster and book cover design, because it’s so quick at what it does. Tell a tool like Dall-E or Midjourney what you’re after and it can deliver impressive images much faster than most humans can.

The Value of the Human Element

The facts mentioned above could make it seem that AI is clearly a favorite option for those in need of artistic work. However, remember that AI can’t create 100% unique art because it draws from existing work, all created by humans. Therefore, without human content as resource, AI can’t give relevant output.

Also, there’s still a percentage of role players that prefer art produced by humans and who won’t accept AI-generated content. Furthermore, despite AI’s impressive abilities, it doesn’t outperform humans in all tasks. For example, AI doesn’t quite deliver to standard when used for comic book creation.

AI: Threat, Help or Hindrance?

Now, what do these facts mean for the modern artist?

AI Art and Copyright

Artists do have certain rights, such as the fact that AI tools may not have the right to use their art as part of image-generating purposes. It’s necessary though that the community presses for legislation to keep up, so there are the necessary laws in place to protect artists’ creations. As an artist it’s smart to familiarize yourself with these rights and make sure to optout of AI tools gaining access to your content if you so wish.

AI’s Role in the Modern Market

It’s clear that AI can be a practical tool in many industries, from marketing to game development. Especially individuals in senior positions with lots of experience are irreplaceable because of their skill that AI can’t match. And after all, tasks like character design takes careful planning that AI isn’t capable of. Yes, there are some challenges for newbies to enter the market, but gaining skills related to AI is one of many ways to prepare oneself for the future.

AI Saving Time, Effort and Money

The simple reason why many will choose AI is that it makes business sense. It can be cheaper to use AI and you often get faster results. It especially helps in the initial stages of projects. From interior design to creating posters, AI can be prompted to help narrow down options for clients, simply by providing keywords. This saves time and money.

Some agencies in the artistic industry can be smart and use these outcomes to benefit their businesses as a whole. With AI being implemented for certain tasks, it can free up team members’ time, so they can get more done and take on more projects.

Humans Do Still Come Out on Top

AI certainly hasn’t outperformed humans on all levels yet. The tech may be quicker at generating certain content but at the same time AI’s quality isn’t always of such as a standard that clients approve of it. Humans are still essential to the creative process.

The Challenge of Working with AI

Another reason why it may still take some time for AI to flood the artistic industry is that it’s not that easy getting what you want from the technology. For example, companies can waste valuable time identifying the prompts that will result in the perfect AI-generated image.

New Opportunities

A smart approach may be to adapt your skillset to benefit from the current scenario. For example, it takes exceptional skill to have AI do exactly what’s required for certain artistic projects. If you’re the individual with that skill, you’ll be invaluable to those wanting to utilize AI.

Which Markets are Affected by AI?

AI may keep on changing and improving in terms of capabilities. It could help artists plan for the future if they know whether their industries are impacted by AI. Although it may still be a long way off, artists in the following roles can research how their niche or employers will implement AI and attain skills that still make them employable and sought after:

Final Thoughts

Creativity and critical thinking will always be unique to humans, while AI has many benefits. So, how will you respond to AI becoming part of the world of artists? Adapting could be key to making the most of what’s to come.

Look for ways to use AI to streamline workflows and take care of tedious work. As a result, there’s more time and freedom to get creative. Find new opportunities and become an important role player in this industry that’s continuously changing.