This winter, artificial-intelligence-driven software apps became popular on social media sites. They automatically turn your profile photo into an 'artsy' new image — usually in the style of an existing artist. University of Southern Indiana Art and Design Department Professor and Chair Sara Christensen Blair spoke with WNIN’s Tim Jagielo about making a living in art, and this controversial trend of AI- generated art.
Sara Christensen Blair
Some people feel like it's stealing. And some people feel like it's not art. But I feel like that happens with every new technology.
So it's just a matter of managing it until we know exactly what effect it's having. I kind of thought it was cool, I was going to download the apps, just check it out, because there's always cool new software that comes out. And again, because of the proliferation of the technology, some of the stuff existed, you could do these things before, which was a lot harder. Now you just take a picture and the program does it for you. Whenever new technology comes out, we all kind of get scared.
You know, in the 1800s, when the camera came out, I'm sure everybody was panicking.
So I'm hoping (AI) becomes a tool. But our fear, of course, is always, 'how much do you appropriate other imagery? How much is someone else's artwork? How are you going to cite that the database?' That's what I think concerns most people.
Tim Jagielo
What do you think would be the best way to interact with it for non artists — to do it in a way that's actually ethical or actually is good for the arts? Is there a way to do that? Have you guys talked about that in your classes?
SCB
I talked with students briefly this morning, just how they're feeling about it, because it seems to have hit a fever pitch. Art students are often worried because then they feel like if the computer can do it, that's going to replace them. But I think we've seen in most creative industries, that's just not work, that doesn't really happen.
So I think one way some students have talked about using it too, is, maybe it's a great way to come up with reference photos for their own work or modification of an image in an ironic way.
The biggest concern on this campus, for instance, was AI generated writing — papers and stuff. And that I can imagine, is more difficult to manage.
TJ
How are your graduates making their degrees practical?
SCB
Seventy-five percent of our graduates at USI are in some sort of digital area: so graphic design, interactive design, photography, illustration. There's also traditional art studio. I see a lot more people hiring social media managers, you know, because someone has to do it. And they want it to look a certain way.
So I think there's an increase in those kinds of jobs that we don't quite know what they are yet. Especially video editing, things like that. Those have become really big since I started in the industry.
(For studio artists) I think it's become easier for them to get their work out there. But it still seems overwhelming, because there's so many people (and) you can actually see all the people's work.
TJ
What (else) has changed, I guess, regarding art and design since you've been in the industry?
SCB
Well, I think the biggest change has been just the proliferation of visual images with social media. But some of it still remain the same. I was in the graphic design industry for a while, the early 2000s, and a lot of that the 'static' stuff, the anti-multimedia things that don't move on a screen, haven't changed. The basics haven't changed.
But I think that the platforms we put them on has, and the proliferation of originality and images has just become really overwhelming. There's a lot more imagery, but at the same time, I think that the design basics are still there in terms of the art industry.
TJ
Do you want to say anything about the BFA coming up? Or is that not public yet?
SCB
Yeah, so we're a medium-sized school in terms of art programs, and we have 12 full time faculty, and this program at USI is strong, young, but strong, just like the university.
Right now we offer a BA or BS in art, and starting fall 2024 pending approvals and all that, we'll be having a bachelor of fine arts. And for those people wondering the difference — a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Art, is more liberal arts. It's between 45 and 60 credits of art, whereas the Bachelor of Fine Arts is what's considered the ‘professional level art degree.’
So we're really excited about that because we're not having to add faculty or resources. We are just giving the students another option. It's a long process, hopefully fall 2024. We're very excited.