How does artificial intelligence reshape the boundaries of artistic creativity?

As artificial intelligence expands its use in creative fields, new questions arise about the concept of art and how its standards could change in the future. Today, AI is being used to create art, images, and sculptures, some of which are sold for thousands of dollars, prompting a redefinition of art itself.

Through robots like “Aida,” the world’s first robotic artist, art challenges its old traditions. In Oxfordshire, “Aida” is used to create amazing artworks, showcasing its ability to paint abstract pictures and innovate sculptures. This new approach raises questions about the role of AI in creativity. Can machines replace artists? Or can they be a means to enhance human creative potential?

Marcel Duchamp, the famous artist who presented “The Fountain” as an art piece in the early 20th century, sparked widespread controversy about what can be considered art. Today, we face a similar controversy, as Duchamp’s ideas were revolutionary in his time, and AI works pose similar challenges to art traditions. Philosopher Alice Hellywell suggests that AI may not be different from those revolutionary art movements, as it reflects the interests and challenges of the current era.

Contemporary artists like Aida represent a phenomenon reflecting current concerns about the rise of AI and the dominance of robots. However, many believe that this development may not be the end of human art, but could lead to a significant shift towards new methods of vision and expression.

What distinguishes AI in art is that its creativity is not only based on stored data but it can create new works using built-in cameras, allowing it to produce unique self-portraits. However, the question that arises is: can these works be considered true creativity? Or is the credit due to the programmed software and algorithms?

Margaret Boden, a researcher in cognitive science, offers a definition of creativity based on the ability to generate new and surprising ideas. According to this definition, AI works can indeed be considered creative, but the debate remains open on whether AI can be considered an artist in itself.

Some artists today train algorithms on their own works, attempting to expand their creative boundaries. As Marcus du Sautoy, a mathematician at the University of Oxford, points out, software can evolve and change based on the data it is exposed to, opening the door to new creativity that emerges from the code itself, rather than from the human who wrote the software.