How is it illegal to copy old artworks that are in the public domain? That makes no sense. Artists are legally allowed to use other artists work as influence in their own art — that is in fact almost the entirety of what “art” is. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

There were artists who lost their jobs when Adobe Photoshop came out. More lost jobs when Wacom tabets came out. Canva probably put a lot of graphic designers out of business. But Adobe also helped bring forth all kinds of new artists and create new jobs. I wish everyone could do things exactly as they want to but we’re all in the same boat and trying to create beautiful things with the skills and tools that fit us.

Having your art trashed in every era is a rite of passage. There is always an old guard with an Us Vs. Them letting in one or two new people as spectacles. There’s always a friendly air of condescension and pity for those new wayward artists who just don’t know any better. Getting hoodwinked by that new AI fad! 1962: Did you hear Andy Warhol is actually painting over pictures and calling it art? We “experts” know the “real” art is (insert favorite here).

If AI art seems to be an oxymoron to you, you join a storied group of those who feared what’s next.

Every new sea change in tech has people panicking. It’s normal. Keep in mind a lot of the jobs artists have today were made possible because of tablets and easier web interfaces. In the beginning of all tech, licensing gets worked out. That’s what happened with music when sampling came out. That’s what happened with music when DJ’s played festivals and people complained that all the DJ had to do was push a button. Their playlists got licensed. But obviously, it’s so much more than pushing a button. That’s why there are music festivals everywhere. There will always be cheap clients. And there will always be new tech that chips away at someone’s specialty. Go visit some pro AI art channels and you’ll see people who are excited to create. This is their first step into the art world. It’s important to discern between people with bad intentions and good ones.

Ahh.. but we’re still in the “AI Art isn’t real art era” aren’t we?
Can you imagine going back in time to 1962 saying Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn is going to be worth $195 million?
This is what all art is up against. Pick an era. Someone is saying “but this new art is sacrilege! It’s not even art!”
No one ever sees the irony of them saying it. Warhol got sued for “stealing” a photo and painting over it. He settled out of court. Would any major museum reject his art today?

In the early 1800’s, If you wanted a portrait you went to an artist who would paint one. Then the camera came out. Lots of artists trashed photographers. Then it became an art form. Then film came out. Some dismissed it as a novelty. Then it became an art form. Then digital video came out and the filmmakers said only my 70mm print will do. Some said no one who uses digital video is a “real” auteur. Then it became the standard. Then YouTube came out and everyone was making videos and literally creating their own channel. Like this one. So here are all these people using formerly “fake” tech for their own benefit while being the arbiters of what is real and who is a fraud. Go look up how many people are using AI art. 15 million users at one of them.

Somewhere in that group of people are future art forms. And at some point in the future, they’ll be doing the same thing you are. No matter how superior you may feel and no matter how right you may think you are, never trash someone trying to make art. If you don’t want the art you make trashed, show it with your example. It’s ok to be scared and yes – stop anyone trying to take from you. But when they’re “all” trying to take from you, none of it is “real” art and you somehow think you can see into the hearts of 15 million people, I would rethink my approach.

If you make art there will always be someone who loves what you do and there will always be challenges to make money with it. Waiting for AI users to get tired and mocking them doesn’t seem like a winning strategy. Thanks for listening. I wish everyone here success however they define it. A video worth watching for you: https://youtu.be/X9RYuvPCQUA?&t=10

Wholesale Ted Sarah ? you said that program is not available in your area. Did you try using a VPN ? a VPN makes your IP address look, like it’s in another country when it’s on.

It is interesting because a lot of the big companies AI art generators didn’t get included in this lawsuit. Midjourney is tiny compared to OpenAI & DALL-E yet they are being sued, not them. So you take OpenAI & their DALL-E AI Art generator. Despite being now the most popular AI art generator in the world (I think – I’d have to double check!) it’s not included in the lawsuit, and so any results from this, wouldn’t affect them.