#36: Will AI replace artists?

The Andrew Price Podcast
22 Dec 202225:08

TLDRThe transcript discusses the impact of AI on the art industry, addressing concerns about job displacement and copyright infringement. It highlights the importance of adapting to new technologies and offers seven predictions for 2023, including the rise of AI in software, ethical AI development, increased AI regulation, changes in studio staffing and production volumes, the introduction of Nerfs in VFX, potential advancements in VR, and the expected crash of metaverse hype. The speaker encourages embracing AI as a tool for enhancing creativity and productivity.

Takeaways

  • 🤖 AI's impact on jobs: The rise of AI has sparked concerns among artists, as it seems to excel at tasks they've been focusing on for years, like technical skill sets in art creation.
  • 🎨 Artistic uniqueness: While AI can replicate and render well, it's the unique storytelling and human creativity that sets artists apart, which AI currently cannot emulate.
  • 🔄 Career rebirth: Many artists feel like they need to start their careers over again due to the changing demands of the market, with a new emphasis on skills that complement AI capabilities.
  • 🌐 Copyright concerns: There's ongoing debate about AI being trained on copyrighted images, but the speaker believes ethical AI trained on non-copyrighted images is inevitable.
  • 🏛️ Industry adaptation: The industry will need to adapt to AI, and artists should focus on understanding which problems AI can solve and which require human creativity.
  • 🚀 AI development: AI developers are motivated to produce unique images, as their product's success depends on it, which will naturally lead to the reduction of AI overfitting to training data.
  • 🛠️ Workflow evolution: The use of AI is expected to speed up production and change workflows, requiring artists to stay updated with new tools and techniques.
  • 🔄 Ethical AI emergence: There will be a push for ethical AI that uses copyright-free images, and this may become a dominant market if regulations come into play.
  • 📉 Staff count vs. studio volume: While staff counts at studios might decrease due to AI efficiency, the volume of studios may increase as lower costs enable more productions.
  • 🌐 Global AI regulation: Governments are beginning to recognize AI's power and are implementing policies, which will likely increase in the coming years.

Q & A

  • What is the main concern artists have regarding AI and its impact on their jobs?

    -Artists are concerned that AI, which excels at technical skill sets like creating and rendering basic forms, might replace their unique storytelling abilities and make the skills they've developed over decades less relevant in the future job market.

  • What does the speaker believe is the key difference between AI and human artists?

    -The speaker believes that while AI can create images, it cannot tell what solution best fits a given problem, which is a crucial aspect that remains in the control of human artists.

  • What is the speaker's stance on the use of copyrighted images in AI training datasets?

    -The speaker acknowledges the controversy but suggests that in the long run, it won't matter because eventually, someone will release an ethical AI product trained on non-copyrighted images that achieves the same results.

  • How does the speaker view the future of AI in the creative industry?

    -The speaker sees AI as a promising tool that will change industry pipelines and potentially increase the demand for unique creative input from human artists, as AI cannot replicate the human ability to understand and solve complex creative problems.

  • What is the speaker's advice to artists regarding AI?

    -The speaker advises artists to reframe technology as an opportunity rather than a threat, to leverage AI to level up their skills, and to stay updated with the latest developments in AI to remain relevant and employable in the industry.

  • What are the speaker's predictions for AI development in 2023?

    -The speaker predicts an explosion of new AI integrations into software, ethical AI models built on copyright-free images, increased AI regulation, a decrease in studio staff counts while the volume of studios increases, and the potential for AI to significantly impact the VFX industry and other sectors.

  • What is the speaker's view on the use of living artists' names in AI prompts?

    -The speaker disagrees with the practice, considering it a core issue because it can immediately affect the livelihoods of artists who rely on commissions and blurs the lines between fair use and infringement.

  • How does the speaker compare the use of AI in art to traditional artistic inspiration?

    -The speaker argues that both AI and human artists have always inspired each other, and that the use of references, whether from AI or traditional sources, is a common practice in the art world. The key difference lies in the degree to which AI can produce results that are almost identical to the source material.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on the role of social media in promoting certain AI developments?

    -The speaker believes that social media tends to promote the worst in humanity and can lead to a negative focus on AI developments, but also acknowledges that it can be a platform for discussion and debate on controversial topics.

  • What does the speaker suggest as the best mindset for artists facing technological innovation?

    -The speaker suggests that artists should adopt a mindset of opportunity rather than threat when facing technological innovation, and emphasizes the importance of controlling how one reacts to change as it is the most crucial aspect within an individual's control.

  • What is the speaker's perspective on the potential of AI in the field of VR and the metaverse?

    -The speaker sees AI as having a significant potential in the field of VR and the metaverse, predicting that it will lead to a decrease in production costs and an increase in the quality of work produced by indie developers, potentially reaching AAA standards.

  • How does the speaker foresee the development of the metaverse in the coming years?

    -The speaker predicts that the metaverse hype will crash in 2023, entering the 'trough of disillusionment' phase, where the hard work begins to build something of value. This phase is expected to last for several years before the metaverse becomes a key medium in society.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 AI's Impact on Artists and Copyright Concerns

The paragraph discusses the significant impact of AI on artists' jobs and the controversy surrounding its use. It acknowledges the empathy for artists whose technical skills, honed over years, are now being replicated by AI. The speaker argues that while AI excels at technical tasks, the unique human ability to craft compelling stories is irreplaceable. The issue of AI being trained on copyrighted images is addressed, with a prediction that ethical AI products using non-copyrighted images will emerge. The hypocrisy in the art industry regarding copyright is highlighted, comparing the use of references to AI's learning process. The speaker asserts that AI developers are motivated to avoid overfitting to training data to maintain product trustworthiness. The importance of understanding the problem to be solved is emphasized, as AI cannot determine the best solution on its own.

05:02

🎨 Reframing AI as an Opportunity in Art

This section emphasizes the opportunity that AI presents to artists, rather than viewing it as a threat. It highlights that professional concept artists who have seriously engaged with AI do not see it as a danger, as they recognize the complexity of creating good art goes beyond mere rendering. The speaker encourages embracing technology and adapting to new tools like AI to enhance skills and produce better works faster. The paragraph also touches on the need to let go of certain workflows as AI advances, but reassures that artists will still be needed for their creative problem-solving abilities. The speaker shares their predictions for the industry's adaptation to AI, including the expectation of more discussions and debates within the community.

10:02

🚀 Predictions for AI and Tech in 2023

The speaker shares seven predictions for the upcoming year, focusing on the proliferation of AI in various software packages, the rise of ethical AI models trained on copyright-free images, and the increase in AI-related regulations worldwide. The predictions also cover the potential decrease in studio staff counts due to more efficient workflows enabled by AI, while the number of studios may increase due to lower production costs. The speaker anticipates AI's role in VFX through the use of Neural Radiance Fields (Nerfs) and speculates on Apple's potential entry into the VR market, which could significantly boost public interest in VR. Lastly, the speaker suggests that the metaverse hype may crash in 2023, entering a period of adjustment before its long-term potential is realized.

15:04

🌐 The Future of VR and the Metaverse

The paragraph discusses the potential for VR to make significant advancements in the future, largely dependent on Apple's rumored entry into the VR headset market. The speaker suggests that Apple's release could signal to the world that VR is a viable and important technology, sparking a surge in public interest and development. The conversation then shifts to the concept of the metaverse, with the speaker noting that while many companies are investing heavily in it, its full realization may still be a decade away. The speaker references a book by Matthew Ball, which posits that the metaverse will become a key medium when everyday people start referencing experiences within it in their daily conversations.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn like humans. In the context of the video, AI is central to the discussion about its impact on artists' jobs and the creative industry. The script mentions AI's ability to perform technical tasks and its potential to revolutionize the way art and content are created, as seen with AI image generators like Dolly and MidJourney.

💡NFTs

NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, are unique digital assets that are indivisible and cannot be exchanged on a one-to-one basis. They are often used to represent digital art or collectibles and are stored on a blockchain. In the video, NFTs are mentioned as a controversial topic alongside AI, indicating their significance in the current digital landscape and their potential impact on artists and the art market.

💡Copyright

Copyright refers to the legal right that creators have over their original works. It prevents others from using, distributing, or modifying these works without permission. In the video, the concern about AI training on copyrighted images is highlighted, emphasizing the ethical and legal challenges in AI development and its application in the creative field.

💡Technical Skills

Technical skills are the abilities and knowledge required to perform specific tasks, often related to a particular trade or profession. In the context of the video, technical skills are contrasted with the creative and unique storytelling abilities that artists possess, suggesting that while AI may excel at technical tasks, the human element of crafting compelling narratives is irreplaceable.

💡Reference

In the context of art and design, referencing involves using existing images or ideas as a basis for creating new work. The video discusses the common practice of artists using references for inspiration, and how this practice is being challenged by AI's ability to generate images based on existing works, raising questions about originality and intellectual property.

💡Ethical AI

Ethical AI refers to the development and use of AI systems in a way that respects ethical principles, human rights, and the law. It involves considering the impact of AI on individuals and society, and ensuring that AI applications are transparent, fair, and accountable. In the video, the speaker predicts a shift towards ethical AI products, indicating a growing awareness and demand for responsible AI practices.

💡Innovation

Innovation refers to the process of creating new ideas, methods, or products. It is often associated with bringing change and improvement. In the video, innovation is discussed in the context of AI's impact on the creative industry, emphasizing that while it may disrupt traditional workflows, it also presents opportunities for artists to enhance their skills and produce better work.

💡Workflows

Workflows are the sequences of steps taken to complete a task or a project. In the context of the video, workflows refer to the processes and procedures artists use to create their work. The speaker discusses how AI will change these workflows, leading to faster production and potentially altering the demand for certain technical skills.

💡VR

Virtual Reality (VR) is a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. It is achieved through the use of computer technology to create a three-dimensional, interactive environment. In the video, VR is mentioned as a potential area of growth and innovation, with the possibility of Apple's entry into the VR market being a significant influencer.

💡Metaverse

The metaverse is a collective virtual shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality and physically persistent virtual reality. It is a concept that has gained significant attention as a potential future platform for social interaction, entertainment, and commerce. In the video, the metaverse is discussed as a topic that has reached peak hype and is expected to enter a phase of disillusionment before eventually becoming more established.

Highlights

AI's impact on artists and their jobs, with a focus on the controversial topic of NFTs.

The importance of technical skills in the past and the need to shift towards storytelling and uniqueness in the future.

The potential for AI to revolutionize industries by automating tasks and changing the nature of creative work.

Concerns about AI training on copyrighted images and the potential for ethical AI products in the future.

The hypocrisy in the art industry regarding the use of copyrighted images for inspiration.

The distinction between human and AI-generated art, and the importance of originality.

The role of AI developers in ensuring the uniqueness of AI-generated images and the trust of users.

The potential for AI to level up skills and create better works faster, changing traditional workflows.

The importance of staying updated with new technologies and workflows to remain employable.

Predictions for 2023, including the explosion of new AI applications and the integration of AI into existing software.

The rise of ethical AI and the potential for companies to promote data sets built on copyright-free images.

The increasing regulation of AI by governments and the potential impact on innovation and public good.

The potential decrease in studio staff counts while the volume of studios increases due to lower production costs.

The introduction of Nerfs (Neural Radiance Fields) in VFX, offering new possibilities for low-budget productions.

The potential for VR to leap forward significantly, with Apple's rumored entry into the market.

The expected crash in metaverse hype and the long-term development needed to realize its full potential.

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