tech
Is AI the greatest art heist in history?
New technologies of reproduction are plundering the art world – and getting away with it
TL;DR
- Generative AI is criticized for its environmental impact and potential to cause mental health issues.
- Artists claim AI image generators have scraped their work without permission or payment, leading to a "greatest art heist in history."
- Tech companies, like OpenAI and venture capitalists, have dismissed copyright concerns and advocated for rapid AI development.
- An open letter demanding AI-generated images be kept out of newsrooms gained thousands of signatures.
- A lawsuit was filed by three illustrators against Midjourney and Stability AI for alleged copyright infringement.
- The author argues that AI is a tool to discipline and eliminate human workers, particularly in creative industries, leading to job losses and the destruction of entry-level opportunities.
- The article draws a parallel between current AI resistance and the Luddites, reframing them as skilled artisans fighting for their way of life.
- The author warns that AI's impact extends beyond art to the environment, culture, education, and human imagination, offering a dystopian future in return.