Since the beginning of time, there has always been the human drive to create. And the result? Well, we call it ‘art’. Over thousands of years, art has changed and evolved in ways that our oldest ancestors would brand as impossible, inconceivable. The question now is.. Where will it go next? What will it become, and what are we, as a people, leaning towards?
Those who came before us, even not so long ago, would be shocked and amazed to the point of cardiac arrest to know that we’ve figured out how to draw without drawing, paint without painting, and even replicate the creations flawlessly- without having to do it again. This is digital art. A rapidly growing platform of ideas, it is quickly overtaking the media, backed by its very close- perhaps too close- friend and partner, AI.
AI digital art can be so alluring that many artists lose confidence. It’s increasingly difficult to compete with AI, even though it cannot think and is far from being perfected. Art is becoming increasingly digital. We can expect a surplus of AI VR worlds to explore in the future. Some worry that AI might overtake the art industry, putting many creators out of a job, or more often, just outshining them. Because it seems to create beautiful things from nothing. However, AI simply follows the prompt given and collects known data related to it, often taking too many shortcuts, resulting in essential parts being missing. Like when you ask an AI for a picture of a fictional person you describe, and they appear gorgeous, but missing an eye, or a hand, or their foot is sticking out of their head. AI cannot be ‘creative’ or ‘think’- at least not in any natural or human way.
In the BBC news article “AI art: The end of creativity or the start of a new movement,” author Claudia Baxter says, “Creativity cannot come from nothing- all artists, whether human, robot or algorithm, build upon the works of others.” As well as a rise in digital art, we can expect more that represents today’s most relevant social and political topics. Already in the last decade alone, the number of creators using their art to speak out against social injustices has gone up exponentially. Composition Gallery’s website says, “Art has the potential to be a catalyst for social change.”
Similarly, we can expect new art from all kinds of cultures and backgrounds rising with the help of modern technology, meaning digital galleries and so on. The Composition Galleries website also says, “By 2030, as digital platforms make the cultural exchange more accessible and artists draw inspiration from various cultures and traditions… Globalization will undoubtedly have impacted the art world greatly.”
Some fear AI art overshadowing true creators. We can safely assume that AI and true artists will continue to mix. But despite stories of AI art being sold for thousands, AI-generated art will never have more significance than what is done by hand, by hard work, step by step. Why? Because of human nature. People are naturally drawn to long, emotional stories with deep meaning, especially if they are socially or politically relevant. Since AI does not have this depth, the common people are less inclined to buy such creations or claim they are more valuable.
Singulart website states, “Millennials and Gen Z are more likely to invest in art that mirrors their values. They really have a lot to do with their purchasing decisions, depending heavily on the social and environmental causes. This means the future could be a little more diverse, inclusive, and therefore sustainable.”
“Samadder art and crafts” predicts the rise of seven main things:
- Digital Art and NFT.
- Sustainable and Eco-friendly Art Practices.
- Virtual Augmented Reality Art Experiences.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the art world.
- The Rise of Art Therapy and Wellness.
- The Intersection of Art and Technology.
- The Growth of Street Art and Urban Intervention.
The future of art is expansive and dazzling. Three cheers for all the creative minds out there!
