Oh man... AI.
Rant... on multiple fronts... here we go...
As a 90's kid... AI was never something that would cross my mind as an option.
But here we are.
I can't stand AI writing. It's because I'm a writer. I create content from the heart: more than any AI could do. And it's so obvious to me... AI writing versus human writing... I can tell the difference.
God bless the teachers & professors that have to navigate this new world and figure out whether their students are plagiarists using AI, or they are just good students.
But AI images and video? It's not my artistic medium. And I find myself enjoying it. (Even though it's obvious it's AI). But, then I think, "If this WAS your medium, wouldn't you be just as pissed off by AI image content?"
I definitely would. 100%
But I'll admit. I started using mid journey. Not for content for public consumption... just for my own. Trying to create an image for the characters I compose... but will never get posted. Moreso, just for inspiration. Being able to look the character in the eye once I finally get the most accurate image of them. And that's seeming like an impossibility at this point...
It friggin takes forever... image after image of ugliness. I'm definitely annoyed that if you use the word "fat" for an image description... it creates a comic, impossible, comically ugly face. I have to add the words: "attractive" and "handsome". And I unfortunately have to say, the damn thing errors out. It's as if a fat man CAN'T be attractive. AI can't even figure it out.
Its fucking bullshit. Fat bodies are beautiful... how can it be impossible to create an attractive, non-comical fat man in AI?!
Not only that... but trying to create an image of a SSBHM... it's impossible. I've put in prompts of: "Extremely morbidly obese" or an actual weight: 800lbs, 1000lbs... it's still just a slightly chubby guy. I even tried 2000lbs, and "bariatric wheelchair" or "canopy bed with a winch" or other descriptive situations... so it will know I'm looking for an image of a truly fat man. It's never accurate enough. Or the body itself is just part of the furniture... like, a fat man in a bed... and the legs don't exist... it's just the bed.
Even AI thinks that a 300lb body must be the amount of fat that I'm looking for in a character. Maybe it's the mid journey platform; because I have seen AI images and video of exactly the size that I'm trying to create... but mid journey won't even get close. I should clarify: it gets close to the facial expression of the character, or the background and environment... but the body shape, the actual face... it just fucks up every time. I figure, if I continue to train it; to continue expanding upon previous prompts... eventually it should show me what I'm looking for. But, so far, no luck.
But, to continue...
The amount of profiles that literally get paid for AI content that they put no effort into... it's ridiculous. Like, it costs, on average, $20/month to subscribe to AI generation platforms. And these people get paid 50× more to post things they haven't even created. I mean, as a money making scheme, I can't fault them. Idiots ARE paying them for it (they are idiots because they could pay for the AI platform themselves for much cheaper, and create more personally specific content).
But, we have to make money to survive in this world. And if it is working... it's a problem with the lack of respect for the arts... not a problem with the people trying to make money off AI art. Capitalism, eh?
If I was getting paid for my writing content, I'd probably be able to reach out to artists who create illustrations. To be able to collaborate on a story. I write the text, an artist does the images. But, at the moment, I don't get paid. I still provide my content for free. So I can't afford to collaborate. (Unless it's another artist who doesn't charge for their content.)
Plus, I've noticed that there are more fat content image artists out there that get paid than us writers do. Is it because images are easier for basic people to digest? Written content might just be too much effort to read when most of humanity needs immediate satisfaction. Isn't the rule for video content: 3 seconds? THREE SECONDS until the viewer gets bored and scrolls past.
I mean, God help you if you can't read through a story that's a couple pages long, because you need immediate arousal, as opposed to patience as the writing builds up to it. Imagine living real life like that... you meet a suitor and the date is 3 seconds long until you say, "I'm bored, byeeee!"
So, I'll admit, I'm working with the mid journey platform to create the images that most closely resemble the characters I write about (despite how shitty my image results are). I won't be utilizing the possibility of using them on my profile. I am actually ashamed that I'm using AI. But if it's used as a personal tool for someone who's artistic medium is completely different... I think I understand the benefit of it.
But, please, tell me your thoughts.
Is just using it in general, even for personal purposes, morally wrong? I'm floating around that as a possibility as I navigate this new option.
Or is it more morally wrong to use AI and then charge people for that content?
I think the latter is much worse. But, I'm open to opinions.
I mean, if I finally find an AI image through the mid journey platform that is spot on with a character I've created... will it fuck me to add it to the text?
I mean, it might. Sometimes the lack of imagery is a good thing. It allows the reader to fill in the blanks with what they want. They can imagine the character as their own ideal.
I've had praise for my short form writing being nonbinary. I'm not going to take the praise (out of my own humility) since I don't do it on purpose, but I'm glad it is perceived as nonbinary. Regardless of how you identify, you DESERVE content that respects different identities.
So, I've even been more conscious about it: not using gender specific language. Sometimes the stories need that descriptive aspect. But if they don't... you can bet I'm not going to purposely use gendering language. I want my readers to enjoy what I write... regardless of gender or lack-thereof. It's about community support and acceptance of all identities. It's important. Or, at least, I think it's important.
So yeah, end of rant. Lots to digest (no pun intended). Whether it's AI, original content creaters, or keeping our kink content inclusive and equitable. There is a lot to unpack.