The concept of art has undergone significant evolutions over the centuries, adapting to changing cultural, social, and technological perceptions. Traditionally, art has been defined as a human activity centered on the creation of works capable of expressing ideas, emotions, worldviews, or aesthetics. These works can manifest through a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture, music, dance, and literature, with a particular emphasis on the artist’s intentions and the ability to convey a message or evoke an emotional response in the viewer.
Whereas traditional art has utilized tools like brushes, chisels, and canvases, digital art has introduced a new paradigm through the use of graphic software, virtual reality platforms, and programming techniques. These modern digital tools have provided artists with the opportunity to explore and create works that transcend the traditional boundaries of material and physical space. Digital artists, equipped with these advanced tools, are capable of producing images, 3D sculptures, and environments that interact with the viewer in previously unimaginable ways, thus shifting the line between creator and observer and expanding the horizon of aesthetic and interactive experiences.
However, while digital art has established itself as a natural extension of traditional expressive means, the recent incursion of more advanced technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence technologies, has further expanded the boundaries of what can be considered art. This development marks a turning point in artistic evolution, opening a dialogue between traditional practices and the futuristic possibilities that such new technologies bring.
An extension of the definition of art that could include generative AIs might consider art as any work created with the intent to communicate or stimulate an aesthetic experience, regardless of whether the creator is a human or an artificial intelligence model. This expansion of the definition is supported by the observation that works produced by AI can indeed evoke emotional reactions and stimulate intellectual debates, just as works created by humans do.
Art generated by artificial intelligence also raises ethical and philosophical issues about the ownership of the work, authenticity, and the role of the artist. While some traditional artistic currents value the hand and mind of the artist as irreplaceable sources of creativity, AI art challenges these notions, suggesting a collaboration between human and machine or, in some cases, an independent creation by the machines.
A common criticism directed at artistic works generated by artificial intelligence concerns the perception that, although technically advanced and sometimes even aesthetically impeccable, these works are often said to lack an element described by many as “soul.” This concept, although abstract and unquantifiable, finds easy acceptance among many discussants, accelerating the conclusion of the debate. Philosophically, the soul of a work of art is often tied to the uniqueness and authenticity of the artist’s personal expression, something that is presumed to arise from human experience and individual sensitivity.
Generative artificial intelligence technologies do not limit themselves to simple imitation or reinterpretation of traditional artistic styles but possess the potential to develop original artistic expressions. This is evident, for example, when such technologies are tasked with representing themselves, exploring a form of creative autonomy. When an artificial intelligence is tasked with self-representation, it often generates images that evoke the human brain, faces or heads, or humanoid robotic figures. These patterns are a direct result of how the AI has been programmed and trained, reflecting the inputs and learning models it has been exposed to.
However, more daring experiments that push AI away from these repetitive patterns have led to the creation of non-anthropomorphic and visually abstract works. This shows that, when freed from traditional constraints and stimulated to explore new possibilities, AIs can indeed contribute to the field of art in original ways.
The integration of these new forms of artistic expression raises intriguing questions about what it means to create and perceive art in an era dominated by technological advancement. It may also lead to a broader acceptance of AI art works as legitimate manifestations of creativity, regardless of the absence of an authentic “human soul” behind their creation.