Art Under AI Threat

Paris AI Summit took place from February 10-11 with a focus on the emerging influence of AI (Artificial Intelligence) on the global sphere. Since OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in November 2022, AI has revolutionised the world. ChatGPT has been followed by AI apps such as Microsoft’s Copilot, Google’s Gemini and xAI’s Grok. Now students can get virtual assistance in their education and learning, teachers can create lesson plans, writers can gain research tools, institutions can analyse large-scale data, businesses can use chatbots for consumer services, etc. through AI.   

AI depends upon LLM (Large Language Model) which is trained on vast amounts of text data so it can understand and generate human-like text. With the help of transformer architecture, LLMs can process and understand the association between words and phrases in a sequence. With incredible versatility, LLMs can perform a wide range of tasks from answering queries, translating languages, reviewing and summarising documents to generating uniquely creative content. Here one has to mention generative AI which can create new content based on the input prompts useful in applications such as virtual assistance, chatbots and content creation.

However, along with the rise of AI, there has also been a surge in misinformation and disinformation due to fake content created with AI. Since it is low-cost and even lucrative, it isn’t then surprising that the internet these days is flooded with AI-generated images and texts for the purpose of spreading lies, distorting truth and even profiteering. Some use AI to extort people of their money. There has thus been a rise in cybercrime with the increasing use of fake AI-generated images and content. AI has had implications in academics too as it can be used by students to write their papers. Even as educational institutes consider AI-written assignments and papers as plagiarism, it is still difficult to know if the work is original or AI-generated. 

Then some artists feel the threat that technology presents to the traditional form of art. AI-generated images can be uncannily realistic which in turn can deceive the viewers. It has led major publishing companies and media outlets to ban such content, images, and illustrations. Given the buzz and the jaw-dropping amount of investment in AI, one has to wonder about the imminent repercussions. Currently, tech companies, governments and organisations throughout the world are eager to invest in the technology of AI. US President Donald Trump has pledged an investment of over 500 billion dollars towards AI backed by tech companies like OpenAI and Oracle. 

Trump’s slogan is Make America Great Again (MAGA) and he is looking towards enhancing the role and dominance of America in global technology, prominently AI. However, to the chagrin of the US, the Chinese AI app DeepSeek has threatened the American hegemony in AI as the race towards even faster and smarter technology has escalated in all major players in technology globally. As seen, there are both good and bad sides to AI. The main concern for those involved in the development of AI should be whether this technology can change the lives of people for the better. Technology is a human construct that has to serve well for those who pursue it.