According to Merriam-Webster, art is “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects”. Traditionally, art is viewed as the product that is produced by the hands of an artist. This includes paintings, drawings, sculptures and many other forms of fine art. 

However, in more recent years, many traditional artists have seen their creative sphere change. As humans and technology continue to advance, a new form of digital art has emerged into the world: artificial intelligence art.

Artificial intelligence art, more commonly referred to as AI art, is defined as any artwork that is constructed with the helping hand of artificial intelligence, a line of computer technology in which the focal point is to manufacture instruments that mirror human acumen.  

The creation of AI art can be used through a software that robotizes the artist’s procedure with a code, rather than by the use of human hands. These softwares, including NightCafe Creator, Wombo Dream and Starry AI, utilize algorithms to then generate digital art.

Most of these softwares are relatively simple to use, allowing anyone to immediately become an artist. The majority of AI art generators follow the same procedure: the artist enters a text prompt, such as “blue castle,” picks their preferred style of art that the software provides and the portrait will appear on the screen in just a few seconds.   

However, making AI art isn’t as easy as it sounds. Junior Barbara Castano, an artist at Sage Creek, comments on how difficult it is to use these softwares correctly. 

“I like it, but it’s pretty hard to use,” Castano said. “I tried to search up something, and this blurry thing came out with a bunch of swirls.” 

With the never-ending evolution of technology, many traditional artists are worried that AI art has gone too far and will soon engulf old forms of artistry. AI art has even gone as far as winning art contests.

At the 2022 Colorado State Fair’s yearly art competition, AI artist Jason M. Allen won a blue ribbon as well as a $300 prize for his art piece titled “Théâtre D’opéra Spatial,” which was created with Midjourney, an AI art software. Soon after the winners were revealed, many other artists took to Twitter to share their views. 

“We’re watching the death of artistry unfold right before our eyes,” Twitter user OmniMorpho wrote.

However, Allen defended himself from the many harsh comments stating: “I’m not going to apologize for it. I won, and I didn’t break any rules.”

So is AI art “real” art? The use of artificial intelligence to create artwork may lack the emotion and originality that is heavily displayed with other art forms, but AI art can still influence and inspire humans the way drawings or paintings do. 

Freshman artist Keira Casey believes that this new generation of artistry does constitute authentic artwork.   

“I think that some people are scared that it might be replacing more traditional art, but I don’t think it necessarily is cheating,” Casey said. “I’m sure lots of people thought that digital photography was cheating at one time, but I think it could be used to create art.”

Will AI art overrun what art used to be? Art teacher Megan Herrick trusts that digital artwork will coexist with more traditional forms of art instead of outshining it. 

“I think there’s always going to be a place and an appreciation for what art has been, like the history of working with paints, but I can see that progress is inevitable,” Herrick said. “Art shouldn’t fit into one or two categories, art is everything and everywhere.”