What AI art can't do. And why maybe that doesn't really matter :-(

ART! said:

This.

I guess a counter argument might be "but in the modern marketplace how can I compete with those who do use "AI"-generated images".

I think the answer is that in this industry/hobby you do it by overtly not using "AI" stuff.

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Creators who proudly state "No AI", often with a cute logo . . . that catches my attention!

Jfdlsjfd said:

Yep. Nothing new: Savile Row tailors compete with ready-to-wear suits not by doing the same thing as ready-to-wear manufacturer, but by embracing what makes them different from the other products (and customer experiences) and distinguishing themselves from them.

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Yeah. Humans will have to reposition themselves as high-end 'artisan' stuff to distinguish themselves from all the AI slop.

I dislike the term "slop" because I feel that it inherently denigrates those who are fine with it. It comes off as elitist.

For example, I buy suits off the rack. I'm not going to be purchasing one from Saville Row anytime soon, nor could I afford it. But I am still required to wear one for work (well, only on Wednesdays).

Does this make me an uncultured slob who can't tell the difference? Are my clothes "slop" because they are mass manufactured? I am sure that a Saville Row tailor might think so but...if so, then screw that guy. I have to pay my mortgage. I'm not an aristocrat or celebrity that can buy a bespoke suit for every occasion.

The whole world is adjusting to this new technology, but making moral judgements about, effectively, other people's tastes or circumstances is a perilous path, IMO.

Morrus said:

Yeah. Humans will have to reposition themselves as high-end 'artisan' stuff to distinguish themselves from all the AI slop.

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Hopefully there will be enough work for us "artisan" humans once our AI robot overlords take over all work.

Techbros push this as a way to free humans from labor . . . but who's building the systems that will support all of us unemployed artisan humans?

Morrus said:

Yeah. Humans will have to reposition themselves as high-end 'artisan' stuff to distinguish themselves from all the AI slop.

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The history of furniture making might be illustrative: for many years (centuries) artisans hid their joinery behind decorative trim, because it was a visible sign of how it was constructed, but the joinery itself was considered ugly. Then along came machines, and exposed joinery that couldn't be done by machines* became a sign of craftsmanship.

*For example, dovetails that are so fine/narrow that a router bit can't fit through it.

Hand-cut dovetails:


Machine-cut dovetails:

Dire Bare said:

Techbros push this as a way to free humans from labor . . . but who's building the systems that will support all of us unemployed artisan humans?

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It's not. Its freeing humans from art. The labour jobs will all still be done by humans. ChatGPT can't build a house or dig a hole.

Clint_L said:

I dislike the term "slop" because I feel that it inherently denigrates those who are fine with it. It comes off as elitist.

For example, I buy suits off the rack. I'm not going to be purchasing one from Saville Row anytime soon, nor could I afford it. But I am still required to wear one for work (well, only on Wednesdays).

Does this make me an uncultured slob who can't tell the difference? Are my clothes "slop" because they are mass manufactured? I am sure that a Saville Row tailor might think so but...if so, then screw that guy. I have to pay my mortgage. I'm not an aristocrat or celebrity that can buy a bespoke suit for every occasion.

The whole world is adjusting to this new technology, but making moral judgements about, effectively, other people's tastes or circumstances is a perilous path, IMO.

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To me, there is a difference between physical products made by hand versus products made in a factory, possibly involving robots . . . and AI tools that replace humans doing creative and thinking work.

Either way, humans are automated to some degree, industries are disrupted, and folks lose jobs. Life, in some ways gets more convenient . . . but most often the bosses gain economically while the masses are forced to struggle and adjust.

AI has a lot of promise as human assistance for a lot of tasks . . . but Silicon Valley is pushing AI as a way to replace workers altogether. That's bad enough in "thinking" industries, where we use our brains rather than our hands, but there is something existensally wrong with AI-generated art replacing artists.

I will continue to use the term AI slop because most AI-generated art at this point is slop. It is of poor quality. Of course, there has always been human slop, human-generated art that is of low quality, but having a robot create art takes things to a new level. As AI tools get better . . . will AI-generated art get better? Probably, maybe, I hope not . . .

And of course, it is a term of anger. Anger towards the oligarchs in Silicon Valley who only care about progress and profit, and not so much about people. The problems you mention are real. The term AI slop denigrates the tech companies that make the AI tools, but also the folks willing to use those tools, and the folks who are just fine with the product of those tools.

But you know . . . I'm okay with that. I do have a problem with those who use AI-gen art to cut corners, save money, and cut out real artist partners. I do have a problem with folks who aren't just fine with AI art, but even really enjoy "creating" with the tools just for fun. There are bigger problems and larger evils in the world, but the acceptance of AI-generated art is a problem that might have devastating impacts on the creativity and artistic output of humans.

If you are cool with AI-gen art, or are even really into it as a tech-forward person . . . do I think you are an "uncultured snob"? No, but the attitude does bother me. In a similar way that folks with certain political beliefs that differ from mine bother me. I can still be friends (and family) with those folks, I can still respect, admire, and love them . . . but the part of them that votes "wrong" or is okay with AI-gen art, I'm not cool with that aspect and I worry that their beliefs will further erode our quality of life.

And as an aside . . . factory automation versus handmade goods . . . sometimes I think that has brought more problems than benefit to society. It would be nice, at least in some ways, if we could go back. But we can't, at least not until the zombie apocalypse.

EDIT: I'm going to add in an example, but keep things vague. There is an actor and activist that I've long respected and admired and I follow on social media. The guy is older, and continues to have a healthy career both in Hollywood and as an activist. He has started posting recently (or at least, I started noticing) AI-generated still and video images for various political and social issues he has long supported. It's killing me. I still admire and respect him as an actor and activist, but now that is mixed in with frustration and disappointment. Is he "uncultured" or uncaring about the ethics of AI-gen art? Or just unaware, ironically as an artist himself, of the harm? I still love the guy, still a fan. But, I'm also disappointed and it's going to color the next time I see him on the big screen.

Clint_L said:

I dislike the term "slop" because I feel that it inherently denigrates those who are fine with it. It comes off as elitist.

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And I dislike generative AI. It harms people and it's inherently unethical. I am comfortable calling unethical things names.

The term 'AI slop' only harms... umm... generative AI? I don't think ChatGPT needs you to defend its hurt feelings.

Maybe I'll have to get used to generative AI, against my will. It looks like the environmental damage and the gross mass IP theft, watching rising sea levels encroach on the town I grew up in as my friends and colleagues lose their livelihoods while their life's work is being blatantly stolen is something I'm just going to have to live with. And maybe you'll just have to deal with the unimaginable hardship of hearing it called 'AI slop'. I think of the two of us, you do better in this scenario.

'Cos I ain't gonna stop, and it doesn't bother me one iota if AI stans are upset on poor little ChatGPT's behalf.

(But I'll take 'elitist'. Thanks! I like being one of the elite!)

As a creator I don't use it, and as a gamer I will not buy it. Did and done really.

Clint_L said:

I dislike the term "slop" because I feel that it inherently denigrates those who are fine with it. It comes off as elitist.

For example, I buy suits off the rack. I'm not going to be purchasing one from Saville Row anytime soon, nor could I afford it. But I am still required to wear one for work (well, only on Wednesdays).

Does this make me an uncultured slob who can't tell the difference?

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To the point, someone upthread, sorry I can't remember who, said that for most casual consumers, AI- or human-generated images were impossible to distinguish. I think that's the same in this analogy: most people wouldn't see the difference when looking at the end product and (probably) wouldn't "feel" immensely better in a well-fitting suit. But I know a few people (not necessarily the most affluent, btw) who would call normal suits "slop" and point out a crease showing behind the shoulder or a trouser's leg not showing a break where they think is OK as if it was some fundamental flaw. And yes, they are probably the people who would call people uncultured slobs because their jackets have barrel cuffs and not double cuffs and cufflinks.

(As a side note, I was aware of the relaxed "friday-wear" dress code, but notthing about Wednesday being more formal?)