When applied to science and technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) —and more specifically machine learning—, is wonderful. Among other things, it allows us analyze vast amount of data, to fast-forward over repetitive steps of trial and error in research, efficiently and effectively discovering relevant patterns, connections and associations in complex and abstract matters with a fraction of the time and resources such processes would otherwise consume.
AI is already and will no doubt increasingly play a major role in solving many hardships that have plagued humanity since the beginning of times, e.g. incurable genetic, degenerative or malignant disease that severely impair human experience on Earth —as it should!
As a radiologist in training, I’m very aware of the fait of my own beloved field. I’ll be the first one to accept it, as soon as computers are able to reliably and efficiently carry out the job that my colleagues and I do. If it succeeds and it becomes widely implemented, it’ll hopefully do so due to an increase in accuracy of interpretation in medical imaging beyond that of the human eye, translating into improved diagnosis, therapeutic approach and follow-up interpretation. As in this particular case so close to home, AI’s sense and purpose should always be to propel humanity forward, to create a better world and a better future, to remove the burden of tedious, repetitive mundane tasks and help cover basic needs so we can thrive by investing our valuable, limited time into growing, developing our minds, our relationships, exploring our spiritual side, and everything else that makes us human.
But when applied to the arts, it does the opposite.
The word is already a rough place where disappointment and heartbreak thrive, where dreams are broken and hope is lost every day. A world that makes it increasingly difficult for us to find meaning and purpose. But the arts have always been the silver lining.
Outside of our minds and our intimate circles, the civilized western world is but a new-age jungle driven by the need to succeed, to make profit, to consume. It pushes us to neglect the most abstract yet precious elements that truly enrich our lives: our imagination, our curiosity, the need to grow, learn and love.
Human arts represent, reflect and embody what our Humanity is REALLY about —what sets us appart from all other animals living in actual jungles. It is the one thing with intrinsic value that exists for its own purpose because it is inspired by our experiences, created by our minds and executed by our hands and voices, through the work of thousands of hours over decades and driven by forces machines will never know. It is therefore the one thing that viscerally translates and embodies human experience, enabling us to reach out through our senses, across languages and cultures.
Machine learning AI ‘art’ is NOT art.
It’s an empty profit-driven mockery to the essence of our kind. A soulless frankensteinian monster with no transcendental sense or value created by engineers with no scruples. They steal and exploit the originality, creativity and skills human artists live for that they themselves lack.
AI ‘art’ is convenient, cheap and fun on the surface.
But below, it’s a heartbreaker, a dream crusher and hope devourer in and of itself, devoid of true deep identity or beauty.
And it constitutes the death of yet another special piece of our collective soul.
AI is taking over everything with savage indiscrimination.
And we are losing ourselves with it.
