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 intersection of art and technology, focusing on an AI app called Starry AI that allows users to generate images in the style of various artists, both living and dead. The host, Kimberly Brooks, explores the ethical and legal implications of using AI to replicate and modify artistic styles, particularly when it comes to copyright issues. She shares her experience as an Arts editor and her concerns about the potential for copyright infringement when AI technologies use the work of living artists. The video also features artist Don Smith demonstrating the app and reflecting on the creative potential and legal ambiguities of AI-generated art.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 The discussion revolves around the ethical and legal implications of AI technology in art, specifically when it mimics the style of living artists whose work is still under copyright.
  • 🤖 The hypothetical scenario of an AI app that allows users to input prompts and generate art in the style of specific artists, both dead and alive, is explored.
  • 👩‍🎨 Artist Kimberly Brooks expresses concern about the potential for AI to infringe on the copyright of living artists by replicating their unique styles.
  • 📰 A real-life example is given where Kimberly Brooks faced a copyright issue as an Arts editor at The Huffington Post for using an artist's style without permission.
  • 🖼️ The video features an in-depth demonstration of Starry AI with artist Don Smith, showcasing how the app can create art using various prompts and stylistic filters.
  • 🌟 Don Smith's experience with Starry AI led him to create an image he preferred over his own painting, highlighting the potential of AI as a tool for artists.
  • 🔍 The legality of AI-generated art is discussed, with the consensus that if the AI creates an entirely original piece without human input, it may not be eligible for copyright.
  • 💡 The issue of AI using copyrighted images from the internet, even if transformed, is raised, questioning the ability of AI to distinguish between public domain and copyrighted works.
  • 📝 Starry AI claims to only use images in the public domain for training and does not source copyrighted works, but the speaker expresses skepticism about this claim.
  • 🖌️ The video touches on the historical context of artists asserting their copyright, from watermarking their work to the evolution of internet practices.
  • 💬 The conversation concludes with the idea that AI's role in art creation is still a subject of ongoing debate, especially concerning the rights and permissions of living artists.

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, allowing others to create derivative works without the artist's permission.

  • How does Kimberly Brooks feel about AI-generated art that mimics her style?

    -Initially, Kimberly Brooks might be upset about AI-generated art that mimics her style, but she also recognizes that artists often reference other artists' works, so it's not the act of referencing that bothers her, but the potential copyright infringement.

  • What was the copyright issue 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 painted by Piet Mondrian before he became famous for his geometric paintings. The Mondrian Foundation demanded that the image be taken down or they would charge a fee for its use.

  • How does Starry AI work in terms of generating art based on user inputs?

    -Starry AI generates art based on user inputs by allowing users to upload an image and provide prompts such as style, theme, or specific artists. The AI then uses its algorithms to produce variations of the image that incorporate the user's input.

  • What are the stylistic qualities and categories that Starry AI offers to users?

    -Starry AI offers a variety of stylistic qualities and categories, including preset artistic styles like 'hyper realism', 'Rococo', and specific artists like 'James Jean'. Users can also select specific art movements and mediums.

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

    -According to Starry AI, the models are trained on images located in the public domain, and no copyrighted works of art are used. However, the process of determining whether an image is in the public domain or copyrighted 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 a living artist whose work is still under copyright, using that style without permission could be considered copyright infringement.

  • How might the use of AI-generated art affect an artist's copyright?

    -If an AI-generated work is wholly created by AI, it may not be eligible for copyright. However, if parts of the work were made by a human, they may be eligible for copyright, as it could be demonstrably handmade.

  • What was the reaction of the artists and foundations when their copyrighted images were used without permission?

    -Artists and foundations have reacted by demanding the removal of their copyrighted images used without permission and, in some cases, threatening legal action or charging fees for the unauthorized use of their work.

  • How does Kimberly Brooks view the use of watermarks and copyright symbols by artists?

    -Kimberly Brooks sees the use of watermarks and copyright symbols as a way for artists to assert their ownership and rights over their work, similar to branding a cow to claim it as one's own.

  • What is the main argument against AI technologies claiming they only use public domain images?

    -The main argument is that it's unclear how AI technologies can reliably distinguish between public domain and copyrighted images, especially when sourcing from websites, social media, and other platforms where copyright information may not be explicitly stated.

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. The speaker, Kimberly Brooks, uses herself as an example, wondering how she would feel if such technology could replicate her style with prompts like 'vampires on Mars'. She touches on the potential copyright issues this could raise, especially for living artists whose work is still protected. The speaker then introduces an upcoming demonstration of Starry AI with artist Don Smith, hinting at the blending of dead and living artists' styles and the potential copyright concerns.

05:08

🖌️ Exploring Starry AI with Don Smith

In this paragraph, the speaker delves into the practical use of Starry AI by artist Don Smith. Smith demonstrates how the AI tool can generate images based on his prompts and the style of various artists, both dead and alive. He discusses the potential of the AI to produce images that he prefers over his own paintings, but ultimately recognizes it as a tool. The paragraph also touches on the legal and ethical considerations of using AI to generate art, particularly when it comes to copyright and the use of living artists' styles without permission.

10:13

🤖 AI, Copyright, and Artistic Integrity

The final paragraph focuses on the complexities of copyright and AI-generated art. The speaker questions how AI can distinguish between public domain and copyrighted works, especially when it comes to artists who are still alive and whose work is protected. She recounts her own experiences as an Arts editor dealing with copyright claims and the challenges of using images online. The speaker expresses skepticism about Starry AI's claim that it only uses public domain images for its models and suggests that AI tools might be 'trolling' the web for images to create their artist filters, raising concerns about the legality and ethical implications of such practices.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Artificial Intelligence (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 used to create art by generating images based on user inputs and styles of various artists. The AI in question, Starry AI, is an app that artists can use to produce unique pieces by inputting prompts and selecting stylistic qualities.

💡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, the concern is raised about the potential copyright infringement when AI technologies use the style of living artists whose work is still under copyright. The discussion touches on the complexities of copyright law when it comes to AI-generated art and the use of artists' styles.

💡Starry AI

Starry AI is an app mentioned in the video that allows users to generate art by inputting prompts and selecting various stylistic filters, including those of dead and living artists. It is presented as a tool that can produce images in the style of specific artists or art movements, raising questions about copyright and the role of AI in the creative process.

💡Artistic Style

An artistic style refers to the unique and recognizable manner in which an artist or group of artists 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 modify the distinctive styles of various artists, which raises ethical and legal questions about authorship and originality.

💡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. Works enter the public domain when their copyright expires, or if they were never copyrighted. In the video, Starry AI claims to use images from the public domain for training its models, which raises questions about the app's ability to distinguish between copyrighted and public domain works.

💡Digital Art

Digital art is a form of artistic expression that uses digital technology as a primary tool for creation or presentation. It encompasses a wide range of works, from digital paintings and illustrations to 3D modeling and digital sculptures. In the video, the discussion of AI-generated art and the use of apps like Starry AI falls under the broader category of digital art, highlighting the intersection of technology and traditional artistic practices.

💡Creative Process

The creative process refers to the series of steps that artists go through to conceive and produce their work. It often involves idea generation, concept development, and the actual making of the piece. In the context of the video, the creative process is being transformed by the use of AI, which can generate art based on specific prompts and styles, challenging traditional notions of artistic creation and authorship.

💡Intellectual Property

Intellectual property (IP) refers to any creation of the mind that has commercial value, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, and symbols. Copyright is a type of intellectual property right that protects original works of authorship. The video discusses the intersection of AI and intellectual property, particularly in the context of artists' styles and the potential for copyright infringement.

💡Art Movements

Art movements are periods of rapid artistic activity in a particular style or direction, often characterized by shared aesthetic philosophies and techniques. In the video, art movements like Rococo and the styles of specific artists like James Jean are used as filters in the AI-generated art process, allowing users to create pieces that reflect historical and contemporary artistic movements.

💡NFT (Non-Fungible Token)

NFT stands for Non-Fungible Token, which is a type of digital asset that represents ownership or proof of authenticity of a unique item or piece of content, often used in the context of digital art. NFTs are created on blockchain technology, which provides a decentralized ledger that ensures the token's uniqueness and ownership record. In the video, the idea of turning an AI-generated piece of art into an NFT is discussed, highlighting the potential for new forms of art ownership and monetization in the digital age.

💡Artistic Expression

Artistic expression is the act of conveying emotions, ideas, or concepts through various art forms such as painting, sculpture, music, or literature. It is a fundamental aspect of human culture and identity. The video explores the role of AI in artistic expression, questioning whether AI-generated art can be considered a genuine form of artistic expression or if it challenges the traditional understanding of what art is and who can create it.

Highlights

The discussion revolves around the concept of an AI technology that can mimic the style of an artist, both dead and living, raising questions about copyright and the originality of AI-generated art.

Kimberly Brooks, the speaker, expresses her concern about AI technologies using the style of living artists whose work is still under copyright, potentially leading to copyright infringement.

The speaker mentions a personal experience as an Arts editor at The Huffington Post where she faced copyright issues for using an image that was considered less egregious than her usual content.

The video promises an in-depth demonstration of Starry AI with artist Don Smith, showcasing the use of prompts and stylistic filters based on both dead and living artists.

Don Smith discusses his experience with Starry AI, where he found that the AI-generated images sometimes exceeded his own artwork in quality, leading him to consider the AI as a tool rather than a competitor.

Starry AI offers various prompts and stylistic qualities to users, allowing them to create unique images by combining different elements and artistic styles.

The speaker questions the legality of AI-generated art and the potential for copyright issues, especially when the AI creates something that resembles existing copyrighted works.

Starry AI's response to queries about artist permissions claims that their models are trained on images in the public domain and no copyrighted works of art are used.

The transcript highlights the ongoing debate about the legality and ethics of AI using the styles of artists, particularly those who are still alive and whose work is protected by copyright.

The speaker's skepticism about AI's ability to distinguish between public domain and copyrighted art is expressed, questioning the validity of Starry AI's claims.

The discussion touches on the historical context of artists watermarking their work to protect copyright, and how this practice has evolved with the internet age.

The speaker speculates that AI platforms might be 'trolling' the web for images to create artist filters, which could include copyrighted material without proper permissions.

The interview with Don Smith provides insights into the practical use of AI in art creation, demonstrating how AI can be utilized as a tool by artists rather than as a replacement.

The conversation raises awareness about the need for clear guidelines and regulations regarding the use of AI in art to avoid potential copyright infringement and protect artists' rights.

The transcript concludes with a reflection on the evolving relationship between AI, art, and copyright, emphasizing the importance of understanding and respecting intellectual property rights in the digital age.