Art and AI: What is an Artist's Style Worth? StarryAI, Copyright with Kimberly Brooks

Kimberly Brooks
22 Jul 202313:34

TLDRThe video script discusses the implications of AI technology, specifically Starry AI, on the art world. It explores the concept of using AI to generate art in the style of both dead and living artists, raising questions about copyright and the ownership of AI-generated art. The artist Don Smith demonstrates using the app to create new images based on his own work and various artistic styles, highlighting the potential and legal grey areas of AI in art.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 The discussion revolves around the concept of an AI art application that can mimic the style of various artists, both dead and alive, raising questions about copyright and artistic originality.
  • 🤖 The hypothetical AI app allows users to input prompts and select an artist's style, which brings up concerns for artist Kimberly Brooks regarding the use of her style without consent.
  • 🚨 Artistic works still under copyright present a legal grey area when used by AI, as the technology might generate works that resemble copyrighted art, potentially infringing on the original artist's rights.
  • 📰 A real-life example is given where the Supreme Court dealt with a case involving artist Jeff Koons and his sculpture based on a photograph, highlighting the complexity of copyright across different mediums.
  • 🖌️ The video features an in-depth look at Starry AI with artist Don Smith, who demonstrates how the app works by using various prompts and stylistic filters.
  • 🖼️ Don Smith's experience with Starry AI shows that the AI can produce images that the artist prefers over their own work, but ultimately recognizes AI as a tool rather than a replacement for human creativity.
  • 🌐 The Starry AI app is available for download on smartphones and offers a limited number of free uses before requiring a subscription fee.
  • 🎭 The app's functionality includes selecting specific styles, art movements, and mediums, which can be combined with user-provided prompts to generate new images.
  • 🧐 The legality of using AI-generated art that mimics living artists' styles is discussed, with the understanding that if the AI-generated work is entirely AI-made, it may not be eligible for copyright.
  • 💡 The conversation touches on the broader implications of AI in the art world, including the potential for AI to disrupt traditional notions of artistry and copyright law.

Q & A

  • What is the main concern of Kimberly Brooks regarding AI technology and art style replication?

    -Kimberly Brooks is concerned about AI technologies using the work of living artists that are still under copyright, and allowing others to create derivative works without the artists' consent.

  • How does Kimberly Brooks feel about AI-generated art based on her style?

    -Initially, Kimberly Brooks might be upset about AI-generated art in her style, but she later realizes that AI is just a tool and it's the input from the artist that shapes the output.

  • What is Starry AI, and how does it work?

    -Starry AI is an app that allows users to input prompts and select stylistic qualities from a range of categories and artists to generate AI-based images. Users can customize their creations by adding their own images and text prompts.

  • How does the AI generator in Starry AI handle multiple style inputs?

    -The AI generator can handle multiple style inputs by allowing users to select more than one artist or art movement, combining them to create a unique output.

  • What is the copyright issue that Kimberly Brooks faced as an Arts editor at The Huffington Post?

    -Kimberly Brooks faced a copyright issue when she used an image of a tree by Piet Mondrian, which was still under copyright. The Mondrian Foundation demanded that the image be removed or they would charge a fee for its use.

  • How does Starry AI ensure that it uses only public domain images?

    -Starry AI claims that its models are trained on images located in the public domain, and no copyrighted works of art are used. However, the process of determining whether all sourced images are indeed in the public domain is not clearly explained.

  • What is the potential legal issue with using AI-generated art based on living artists' styles?

    -The potential legal issue is that if the AI-generated art is based on the style of living artists whose work is still under copyright, using these styles without permission could infringe on the artists' copyright and lead to legal disputes.

  • How does the artist Don Smith perceive the AI-generated art in comparison to his own work?

    -Don Smith initially feels that the AI-generated art is better than his own paintings. However, he later understands that the AI is just a tool and that his input is crucial in shaping the final product.

  • What is the significance of the 'in the style of' feature in Starry AI?

    -The 'in the style of' feature allows users to select specific artists or art movements to influence the stylistic qualities of the AI-generated images, creating a personalized and unique output.

  • How does the prompt builder in Starry AI function?

    -The prompt builder in Starry AI functions by allowing users to input images and text prompts that guide the AI in generating an image. The AI then produces several variations based on these inputs and the selected stylistic qualities.

  • What is the potential impact of AI-generated art on the art world?

    -The potential impact of AI-generated art on the art world includes challenging traditional notions of authorship and copyright, as well as offering new tools for artists to explore and expand their creative processes.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Artistic Style and AI Technology

The paragraph discusses the hypothetical scenario of an AI technology that can mimic an artist's distinct style based on a prompt. It raises concerns about the potential copyright issues that could arise if such technology were to use the styles of living artists whose work is still under copyright. The speaker, Kimberly Brooks, shares her thoughts on the ethical implications of using AI to generate art in the style of both dead and living artists, referencing a past experience with The Huffington Post where she faced a copyright issue for using another artist's style.

05:08

🖌️ Exploring Starry AI with Don Smith

This section delves into an artist's experience with Starry AI, an app that allows users to input prompts and generate images based on various artistic styles and movements. Don Smith, the artist, demonstrates how he uses the app by inputting his own painting and different prompts to create new images. He discusses the potential copyright and ethical considerations of using AI-generated art, questioning the ownership of the copyright when AI is involved in the creative process. The paragraph also touches on the app's features, such as the ability to select specific styles and mediums, and the artist's interaction with the app's interface.

10:13

🤖 AI, Copyright, and Artistic Integrity

The final paragraph questions the capabilities of AI in distinguishing between copyrighted and public domain art, and how it sources its content. It raises doubts about the claim that AI only uses public domain images for its artistic filters and suggests that AI might be 'trolling' the web for images. The speaker expresses skepticism about the AI's ability to accurately determine copyright status and the potential legal issues that could arise from using copyrighted material without permission. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the evolution of artists' attitudes towards copyright and the internet's impact on the art world.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. In the context of the video, AI is used to create art by generating images based on user inputs and specific styles, raising questions about copyright and originality in art. The script mentions Starry AI as an example of such technology, which takes prompts like 'vampires on Mars' and produces images in the style of various artists, both living and dead.

💡Copyright

Copyright is a legal right that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to its use and distribution, usually for a limited time. In the video, copyright is a central issue as it discusses the use of AI to generate art in the style of living artists whose work is still under copyright. The concern is whether the AI's use of an artist's style infringes on their copyright, especially when the AI is trained on images that may not be in the public domain.

💡Starry AI

Starry AI is an application mentioned in the script that utilizes artificial intelligence to generate art based on user inputs and selected styles. It is an example of how AI technology can be applied in the creative field, allowing users to create images by combining various prompts and stylistic qualities. The app raises questions about the intersection of technology and art, as well as the potential legal implications surrounding copyright and the use of artists' styles.

💡Artistic Style

An artistic style refers to the unique and recognizable manner in which an artist creates their work, often characterized by specific techniques, themes, or visual elements. In the video, the discussion revolves around the use of AI to replicate and reinterpret the distinctive styles of various artists, both living and deceased. The script explores the ethical and legal considerations of using AI to generate art in the style of artists like Kimberly Brooks or famous historical figures like Marie Cassatt.

💡Public Domain

The public domain refers to creative works that are not protected by intellectual property laws such as copyright, and therefore can be freely used by the public. The video script mentions the public domain in relation to the use of AI in art creation, questioning whether AI apps like Starry AI only use images that are in the public domain to train their models. This is relevant because using copyrighted works without permission could lead to legal issues.

💡Digital Art

Digital art is a form of artistic expression that uses digital technology as a primary tool for creation. In the context of the video, digital art is produced through the use of AI technology, specifically Starry AI, which generates images based on user inputs and selected artistic styles. The discussion touches on the originality and copyright of AI-generated digital art, as well as the potential for these works to be considered as belonging to the artist who inputs the prompt or to the AI itself.

💡Creative Process

The creative process refers to the series of steps taken by an individual to conceive and produce a creative work. In the video, the creative process is explored through the use of AI in art, where the AI's algorithms and the user's prompts combine to generate new images. The script raises questions about the role of the artist in this process, especially when the AI is said to produce better results than the original artist, prompting a reevaluation of what constitutes artistic creation and authorship.

💡Intellectual Property

Intellectual property refers to any intangible creation of the human intellect, which can include inventions, artistic works, designs, and symbols, names, and images used in commerce. In the video, intellectual property is a significant topic as it discusses the potential infringement of artists' intellectual property rights through the use of AI to generate art in their style. The conversation highlights the complexities of protecting and respecting intellectual property in the age of advanced technology.

💡Artificial Intelligence App

An artificial intelligence app is a software application that uses AI to perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence. In the context of the video, Starry AI is an example of such an app, which is used to generate art based on user inputs and selected styles. The script discusses the implications of using AI apps in the creative process, particularly in relation to copyright and the potential for these apps to replicate the styles of living artists.

💡NFT (Non-Fungible Token)

A non-fungible token (NFT) is a unique digital asset that represents ownership or proof of authenticity of a specific item or piece of content, often used in the context of digital art. In the video, the mention of creating an NFT suggests the potential for AI-generated art to be tokenized and sold as a one-of-a-kind digital asset, raising questions about the value and ownership of art created with the assistance of AI.

💡Art Movements

Art movements are periods of rapid artistic development and change characterized by shared ideas, concepts, and styles among artists. In the video, art movements like hyperrealism and Rococo are used as stylistic filters within the AI app to generate images, demonstrating how AI can incorporate historical art styles into new creations. This highlights the intersection of technology and art history, as well as the potential for AI to democratize access to various artistic styles.

Highlights

The discussion revolves around the concept of an AI technology that can mimic an artist's style, raising questions about the implications for artists and copyright laws.

The hypothetical scenario where an AI app allows users to input a prompt and select a style, such as 'vampires on Mars' in the style of a specific artist, which could potentially upset the original artist.

The video demonstrates an in-depth look at Starry AI with artist Don Smith, exploring how it uses prompts and filters of both dead and living artists.

Kimberly Brooks, the speaker, expresses concern about the use of AI technology with styles of living artists whose work is still under copyright.

The speaker discusses a personal experience with a copyright issue while working as an Arts editor at The Huffington Post, highlighting the complexities of copyright and artistic style usage.

Don Smith shares his experience using Starry AI, noting that the AI-generated images sometimes surpass his own artwork in quality.

The AI technology allows users to combine various prompts and stylistic qualities, such as 'Dutch still life', 'kitten tea set', 'Venus', and artistic movements or mediums.

Smith's exploration with Starry AI includes creating an image based on his own painting, which he initially preferred over his original work.

The AI-generated images are considered tools rather than standalone artworks, as they rely on user input and algorithms to produce the final product.

Starry AI offers a range of stylistic presets and the ability to select specific artists or art movements, raising questions about the use of copyrighted material.

The conversation touches on the legality of AI-generated art, questioning whether it can be copyrighted and who would own the rights to such works.

The speaker expresses skepticism about Starry AI's claim that it only uses public domain images for its models, doubting the platform's ability to accurately distinguish between copyrighted and non-copyrighted works.

The discussion includes a hypothetical scenario where an AI-generated image is turned into an oil painting, questioning the copyright ownership in such a case.

The transcript explores the evolving nature of copyright and artistic ownership in the digital age, with AI technology introducing new challenges and considerations.

The conversation concludes with a suggestion to create an NFT from an AI-generated piece, highlighting the potential commercial applications of this technology.

The speaker reflects on the need for artists to adapt to the changing landscape of art and technology, considering the implications for creativity and copyright in the future.