Flamingone © Miles Astray | Source: Internet
AI Debate Takes a Full Circle
Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic in contemporary art and tech arenas. Amid debates over the good, bad, and ugly sides of this revolutionary technology, instances reveal how AI will affect various aspects of human life, including the creation of artworks.
The last few years have seen tremendous leaps in the capacity of AI to create still and moving images from mere text prompts. There have been instances where AI-generated visuals trumped human creations in art competitions, triggering arguments over the ethical and philosophical aspects of machine-made art.
In the middle of this din, a photographer based in Bolivia made headlines last month after a photograph he had shot with a camera won a prize at a competition reserved for images made with AI. A multidisciplinary artist, Miles Astray captured a picture of a flamingo with its head buried inside its feathers. The image—titled “FLAMINGONE”—seems surreal, with the bird appearing headless. The artist submitted the picture in the competition judged by eminent photographers and artists. Easily fooled by the skillfully taken camera shot, the judges had no doubt that it was an AI-created image.
After his entry won the prize, Astray took to social media and revealed his intentions, saying that his experiment proved humans could still triumph over AI. Following the artist’s revelations, the competition organizers rescinded the prize given to Astray’s picture and awarded it to another picture that was AI-made. Astray said he wanted to break the contest rules after hearing about AI-made images winning prizes at conventional photography competitions. He “deliberately” chose a picture that could easily be credited to AI because of its surreal nature.
With Astray winning a prize by defeating AI images, the debate over AI technology overpowering photography has come full circle. More than a year ago, a German photographer, Boris Eldagsen, stirred up controversy when his AI-made picture—”Pseudomnesia: The Electrician”—won in the ‘Creative Open’ category of the Sony World Photography Award. While Eldagsen said he didn’t inform the organizers beforehand that the image was AI-generated, the latter stated that its judges were always aware the image had signatures of AI. Eldagsen refused to accept the prize, stating his intention was to kickstart debates on the ethical issues involved in using AI to create photographs.
Images from both Astray and Eldagsen prove that human eyes can be easily fooled in this era of intelligent machines.
Pseudomnesia: The Electrician © Boris Eldagsen | Source: Internet
By Joyel K Pious Published on July 13, 2024
Share
Related News
The Historian’s Question: Where exactly is the ‘British’ Museum?
In an era of global connectivity and cultural awakening, the question of who truly owns our shared heritage has never been more pertinent. From the hallowed halls of the British Museum to the digital archives of the innovative Museum of Looted Antiquities, a revolution in cultural repatriation is quietly unfolding. This essay takes readers on a journey from a thought-provoking conversation with renowned Indian historian K.N. Panikkar to the cutting-edge efforts of online platforms documenting the return of stolen artifacts. As we explore the complex web of acquisition, smuggling, and repatriation, we uncover not just the stories of priceless objects, but also the evolving narrative of how we perceive and preserve our global cultural legacy. In a world where the lines between preservation and appropriation blur, this exploration challenges us to reconsider the role of museums and the true meaning of cultural stewardship in the 21st century.
PCCR’s Fourth Batch of Online Certificate Course on Arts Appreciation Kicks Off September 15
The Pragjyotish Centre for Cultural Research (PCCR), a distinguished institution known for its commitment to the study and promotion of cultural heritage and artistic traditions, has announced the launch of its fourth batch of the Online Short-Term Certificate Course on 'Arts Appreciation'.
New Fellowships Announced to Boost South Asian Textile Research and Education
The MAP Academy and Nalli Silks have announced new Fellowships to support projects focused on South Asian textile traditions. With grants of up to INR 5,50,000, these Fellowships aim to explore textile production, design, and cultural significance in the region. Applications are open for 2024–25, inviting proposals that will enhance research and education in South Asia's rich textile heritage.
AI Debate Takes a Full Circle
Artificial Intelligence continues to stir debates in art and technology. Recently, Bolivian photographer Miles Astray won a competition for AI-generated images with a photo he shot, fooling the judges with its surreal quality. This incident underscores the ongoing discussions about the ethical and philosophical implications of AI in creative fields, highlighting both its potential and its challenges. The debate around AI and human creativity has indeed come full circle, questioning the boundaries between machine and human artistry.
A new venue for art lovers: MAP, Bangalore is open for public
The newly opened Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) in Bengaluru welcomed its first visitors in Feb, offering a glimpse of around 60,000 works that would refresh the subcontinent's rich art history.
Plumbing the depths of space and time, James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope has been designed to see the infrared part of the spectrum, making it capable of glimpsing “galaxies far far away”. This provides access to a part of the spectrum that no telescope has had till date, not even the iconic Hubble Telescope, which can see ultraviolet and visible light.
Snapshots from a forgotten land
Photojournalist Kanika Gupta takes a more personal approach on her page. The Indian journalist, who had to be evacuated from Afghanistan when the Taliban first took over, has since returned, and has resumed her efforts of documenting the country. On her Instagram handle, lifeoutside2by2, she fearlessly interviews and photographs Taliban soldiers, bringing out both the cruelty and humanity in their stories. A snapshot of a man who has been taught to believe that “making landmines is holier than fighting" is juxtaposed with one of two friends - one of whom used to be in the National Army and the other, a hardened Taliban, who joined when an American drone strike killed seven of his family members on a single day. Today, the two friends, who have both joined the regime, reminisce about having fought on different sides.
MAP’s Director’s Cut: Reimagining and Reinventing Museums
This episode (Wednesday, 9th March, 6:30 pm) of MAP’s series Director’s Cut features Nadine Wietlisbach, Director of Fotomuseum Winterthur in Switzerland.
The making of a nation, through Sunil Janah’s eyes
After Sunil Janah moved to the US in his later days, these prints were mostly forgotten. Rahman says it is by another coincidence that they landed in India as a collector managed to buy some of them. “The timing of the exhibition coincides with the 75th anniversary of Independence. At a time when the BJP is trying to demolish Nehru’s legacy and spreading the narrative of ‘Make In India’, Janah’s works assume significance as the ‘Make In India’ started in the 1950s. That is why it is so important that people see these pictures. We should not forget this history and the BJP is trying to make us forget it.” Apart from their historical significance, these are stunning images, says Rahman. “That was a time of great hope. Now, we have a different view about industries. We perceive industries as polluting, but at that time we needed all these factories because we needed indigenous manufacturing. Also, they provided jobs to lakhs of people, particularly in backward areas. There was a great positive energy which actually can be felt in Janah’s photographs.”
Celebrating Resistance, 152 years of Mahatma Gandhi
On Gandhi's 152nd anniversary, PhotoMail remembers him through these everlasting imageries. There are hundreds of photographs of Gandhi, often the author is unknown. Here is a collection of photographs by known Indian and International photographers.