The effects of AI art: a controversy

Photo of someone using chatgpt to generate a photo (Henry Miller / The Puma Prensa)

By Henry Miller, Staff Writer

The rise of artificial intelligence in past years has benefited many, from summarizing long emails or building websites for businesses. But how has it affected the arts as well as our planet? The recent use of generative AI has added to carbon emissions, as well as threatening artists' careers.

Hayao Miyazaki, director of several Studio Ghibli movies, views AI art as "an insult to life". Miyazaki is known for hand drawing the majority of his Studio Ghibli movies such as classics like Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and My Neighbor Totoro, as well as his newest film, the Boy and the Heron. 

AI art, in short, is the use of artificial intelligence to create or help to create art through the use of prompts sent to an AI website. Not only does this form of generative AI affect the environment, but it also harms individuals who are planning to pursue any form of digital art. This is threatening because the simplicity of putting a prompt into a generator is making digital art almost irrelevant. Additionally, its concept of fast art is viewed as highly disrespectful to artists that have spent hours pouring themselves into a piece of art. 

One looming impact of generative AI is the massive effect on our planet. The boom of AI has caused the need for more data centers. At the rate that AI use is growing, companies are resorting to  fossil-fuel based energy which emits carbon, adding to global warming. According to an estimate in an article published by the UN Environmental Programme, "AI-related infrastructure may soon consume six times more water than Denmark."

Overall, the use of AI art is harmful to careers, our planet, and the authenticity of art we see everyday online. Thankfully, we still have time to help. People all around the world are trying to help combat the environmental impact of generative AI. You can help by avoiding the use of generative AI to keep our planet from getting any worse than it is now.