Why use AI for self and pet portraits when you have wonderful real, flesh and blood artists who can do so much better? Real, certified Human. The AI accessed for things like quick and free portraits are actually stealing from artists like these without compensation. I can't steal or even resemble art from a corporation without getting in trouble, why is it okay for corporations to steal from millions of artists and authors without getting in trouble? Being 'free' has more implications than you think; people who use generative AI are literally stealing from small artists/authors, bolstering billion-dollar corporations, while taking much needed pay from the little guy. Not to mention the social and environmental implications; all of your information is being fed into AI for these corporations to do glob-knows-what with, and our resources being used up at an alarming rate. Rural towns all over the country are being run into the ground, jobs lost, utilities sky-rocketing, pollution soaring, because there's a buck to be made.
I don't want to hear about how it's inevitable--I don't care. WWIII could be inevitable, are you going to go gently into that night? Your death is inevitable, are you going to rush to it early because it's going to happen anyways? If we don't stand up for what is right instead of doing what is lazy, we are going to drown in it. Unfortunately, it's not a personal decision -- it's already reaching us all and will only get worse until people start caring. We should be utilizing types of AI that can take dangerous and terrible jobs and tasks from us, not the ones in that are skills and talents. Don't be complacent that just because you don't think there's a way to stop something means you can't be part of the voice that shapes it into being ethical. In short, please care about more than convenience!
I am so lucky to have talented friends that have colored my home with their one if a kind skills. It's love and heart.
