via Johnson Ting
Text by Johnson Ting
“ <This image is made by an AI, someone fed my works to it as data> About Ai
“ Ok, guys since I’ve been sharing about AI stuff recently and I have a lecture tomorrow to give, where there will be discussions about AI, I might as well lay some of it off here to share with you guys my thoughts at this period of time in AI development. Long read ahead.
I know I joke about things like quitting and retiring, but I’m not. No worries about that, thank you guys for messaging me and giving me kind words about it. My stance on AI is that it is definitely, at this point, inevitable. Sure, some companies are banning AIs in their creation process, but it is only a matter of time before AI can produce “ethical” art, just like how the issues with hands are almost gone in just a year or so, seeing there are less and fewer arguments about AI on public spaces, it will also be a matter of time when people will just accept AI and embrace it. What I am currently doing and what I encourage people to do, is to keep their heads dug in and improve their own skillset no matter what, no matter how fast the world is changing out there, focus on improving you as an individual, try to bulk up your leverage, be good at what you do and when the time comes you are able to wield AI as one of the many tools that have come before. There will definitely come a day when digital artists MUST work with AI art, and to prep for that day, we can only do what old masters have done before us, keep our heads held high, practice, and improve. But here’s a fact: It’s going to take twice if not more, effort and passion from this point onward, it’s going to be hard to get your artwork out there and get your voice heard, rough ride ahead, but not unbearable, only the best survives and thrives, and this is the time where we have no choice but to absolutely be the best. Be prepared, arm yourself with skills and knowledge, don’t stop learning, don’t stop yearning for more! What you shouldn’t do is sit still and watch it happen. I personally am not supportive of AI art because of its unethical process, but I am also not naive to hope for a future without it, because it is definitely here to stay. The best-case scenario is that everyone can adapt and thrive, but as history shows when it comes to technology, there will be a cost, and there will be casualties. I hope we as artists, can keep up the motivation to hone our crafts, so we can continue to inspire the generations after. So there’s no point in hoping for a no AI future, it is already here, let’s work for a peaceful scenario where we can both co-exist in peace. Otherwise, you may find me giving blowjobs to our AI overlords in a dark alley in 2046. “
