AI: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Horrid

By Ron Crabb

Apr 04, 2024

As an artist with a fair amount of experience, I have been keeping an eye on the development of AI since July 2022. This was when Midjourney launched, and Chat GPT followed closely behind it in November of 2022.

My focus (being an artist) was mainly on the art side of AI. I created a folder where I dropped images from the Midjourney platform (on Discord), Midjourney Official (a Facebook page), and AI Art Universe (also a Facebook page). I currently have collected over 1,200 pictures created with AI. Note: I did not save any image that I did not think was impressive. Many are flat-out amazing.

In early December of 2022, I wanted to solidify my understanding of the process, so I experimented with Midjourney and had it create over a hundred images.

It's now March 2024, and 2022's AI kindergartner is already in at least the tenth grade and will likely graduate college in 2025. Then, it will keep learning and earn its Ph.D. in art, writing, engineering, music, science, and humor by early 2026. What will it be doing in 2027? Who knows? We'll see.

The Good: AI in General

Yes, there is some potential good.

If it is possible to speed up improvements in medicine and healthcare in general, that is a good use of AI. The same goes for the safety of cars, planes, trains, etc.; if those can be improved, again, it is a good thing.

Who knows? Someday, medical or safety innovations developed with the aid of AI could save me, a family member, or a friend.

So, improvements in health and safety? Yup, that's good. I'm all for it.

The Bad: Ignoring Categorical Differences

AI can dramatically affect every activity that involves using computers. There are a lot of categories, and they vary substantially. So, is it not fair to assume that AI may also have varying impacts depending on the category we are dealing with? I think so.

So, let's talk about Creativity.

The Bad: How AI Changes the Creative Process

It may help to describe the creative process as I have experienced it for over forty years and compare it to the AI creative process.

The Classic Creative Process

1. A client describes something they want me to create. They may have a vision for what they want, so we discuss that. Sometimes, they just let me run with it.

2. I may explore similar work others have done and draw inspiration from them.

3. I create some concept art and show it to the client. We discuss what works and what doesn't, and I revise a concept.

4. The client likes where we're going—I do the final artwork.

5. The client is happy (most of the time :-)), and we look forward to working together again. We are two humans enjoying helping other Creatives (writers, directors, etc.) achieve their vision; it is very satisfying.

The AI Creative Process

1. I come up with an idea I want AI to create.

2. I type it into Midjourney, and sixty seconds later, I have four images.

3. If they are good, I'll type in a request for a high-resolution version of my favorite. But I might ask for revisions. And I get them in another sixty seconds.

4. It may take a few passes, but usually, I can get something that will work. After all, AI is kicking out four images every few minutes. Frequently, it's amazing, especially since it only takes half an hour (if that) to do what would have taken me a week (or many weeks if I factor in all the variations.)

Here is the reality of my experience with Midjourney's AI program: I was, at best, an art director, but not the kind of art director who interacts with artists and is part of a team (which I have experienced). I was not working with other artists; I was asking a computer program to do it. It is very different.

Despite the impressive images, there is no way I would take credit for them. I did not create them; AI did.

AI was not a "tool"; it was the artist.

The Bad: The Misunderstanding of the Word Tool

Way back in the mid-eighties, I was working at KABC in Hollywood, CA. During my first year there, I created TV graphics using pens, markers, paints, colored pencils, and airbrushes—standard illustration tools.

In 1985, the unions at KABC came to a compromise and finally decided who could use the Quantel Paintbox, the first (and very expensive—$250,000) digital art platform. The era of digital art began. The Paintbox was simple compared to today's digital tools; it was just a pen and tablet with a simple menu on the screen, but it made illustrating much faster. And since the art department now had a Paintbox, fewer artists were needed. They cut the art department from around twenty to five.

So yes, technical advancements in design and illustration tools had a downside. That has been the case throughout history—wagoneers and buggy whip makers were not thrilled when the automobile appeared.

Regarding the Paintbox, I was one of the lucky ones—I was one of the five. No individual artist could afford a $250k Paintbox, so if you were not already working at a TV station or production studio, you did not have access to learn how to use the tool. I was in the right place at the right time.

Fortunately, the downside was relatively short. Photoshop and other digital tools appeared, and the playing field was once again even. Most artists now had access to digital art tools—tools that did not create for you; they made creating faster.

Understanding the difference between an artist's tools (traditional or digital) and AI is important. It is one thing to use a digital pen to draw images on a computer tablet; it is another to ask AI to draw it for you.

The Bad: Downplaying the Importance of Human Creativity

I have lived the creative process my whole life and am one of the most fortunate artists on the planet. I have made a living creating fine art, illustrations, motion graphics, design projects, animation, and visual effects. I've used traditional methods and many digital applications, 3D apps, animation apps, music composition apps, and post-production tools to create everything from cartoon-style video games to photo-real paintings and visual effects.

And I wasn't alone. Throughout my career, I have learned from other artists. I have collaborated with them, been art-directed by some, and have art-directed others. I have seen my work get better, and I have seen those other artists improve as well. It really has been a great way to make a living.

I think it's safe to say that there is not a person on the planet who does not enjoy creativity, whether they do it, experience it, or both. It is one of the most potent bonding agents for humans. We recognize so many cultures by their music and dancing, thoroughly enjoying the wide range of styles and moods; the same goes for art and storytelling of all kinds.

But we don't need to go far to experience the importance of creativity. For instance, when you go to a movie, the people sitting there may have different views on politics, religion, and culture. But you all laugh at the funny parts and are moved by the sad parts. The credits begin, and many names scroll by, each having played a role in the production, working with each other, sharing a vision, and making it come to life.

By watching it, you have also shared in the vision.

Now, apply this to art, design, photography, music, poetry, novels, scripts, humor, etc.

Creativity is not just fun; it is a massive part of what it means to be human. Creators are telling the human story; it is powerful and bonding.

To quote Robin Williams' character (John Keating) in Dead Poet's Society.

"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."

The Bad: Saying Goodbye to Human Inspiration

Understanding inspiration is essential when it comes to AI. Inspiration has always been a huge part of the human creativity process, motivating us to create after experiencing other people's art. We love what we are seeing and it goes beyond just an image; there is a story being told that makes us feel connected to the artist. We want to learn from them so that we can learn how to tell stories in our own way. Beauty, power, humor, romance, you name it; when we see art created by other people, it helps us understand them. If we are lucky enough to be creators, we are helping them to understand us. Being on either side of that experience bonds us together and helps us know that we are not alone.

That inspiration process is precisely what AI was designed to imitate.

Prompting AI to do the same thing in seconds severs that human bond. That "inspiration" experience happens without the prompter's participation; they write a prompt, wait a few minutes, and then get to see the results. They wrote a few sentences, the rest is done by AI.

The Bad: Saying Hello to AI "Inspiration"

AI art prompters often ask fellow prompters, "What was your Prompt?" They ask because they want to learn the secrets of crafting an effective prompt. They want tips to help them phrase their ideas, which they then pass on to AI. Essentially, it is one human asking another human how to bypass the human experience of creating.

I know they don't see it that way; they think they are creating. I've seen them praising how great images are as they ask for the prompt; it is genuine enthusiasm. But again, they are excited about learning how to do the very first step in creating and will hand the rest over to AI.

The Bad: The Truth about AI Quality

Some creatives say that AI will never create as well as people do. I beg to differ. The very thing it is doing is accessing all the human creative work that can be found online and being "inspired" by it at an astonishing pace. I have already seen gorgeous AI art and photographs, many of which are both beautiful and unique. I understand the impulse to say that the quality of AI can't match human creativity. I get it—it would be nice to think that it will never be able to compete with humans. And yes, much of it doesn't. But a lot of it does…

(More composited AI images [and ads and links] at the end of the article.)

It's the elephant in the museum standing upright at her easel while surrounded by a full range of paintings from throughout history and hundreds of her own paintings. Her palette is covered in beautiful colors, and her brushes are ready. She has a big smile on her face because she's about to do another beautiful painting.

And there's a prompt right there.

Prompting Imaginative Ideas

Yes, some prompters stand out. I have a separate folder for individuals who post very impressive images. However, having used AI, it is clearly more about imaginative ideas than artistic skill sets. Those ideas are what start the creative process, so yes, that portion of human creativity is still present when using AI.

So, when dealing with art AI platforms, the better prompters will likely be people who used to be Creatives of some kind. They understand the language of creativity because they have been hearing it throughout their careers. But they should also be the ones who realize how much is being handed over to AI. They know that their involvement ends after typing in a well-phrased idea for the AI platform they are using. Then AI takes over.

It would be like Leonardo da Vinci coming up with an idea for a painting in the AI age. He would prompt, "Do a painting of Jesus and the twelve disciples all sitting on one side of a long table with Jesus in the middle. Reflect their personalities in expression, posture, and color." He would then get four images in sixty seconds, maybe do a few more prompt rounds to fine-tune it, and thirty minutes later, he would have The Last Supper. I hope I don't need to explain how different that is from how da Vinci actually created it.

Is Prompting a Skill Set?

Many AI fans claim it is. Indeed, wording your initial idea in a way that gets the best results from AI can be tricky. But free tips and inexpensive prompting courses are everywhere. The platforms themselves provide prompting tips—they want you to use their AI program. It means more money for the platform if they can help you improve your results—happy customers are good for business.

So, a skill set? Only if you define a skill as something you can look up on the internet, read a few tutorials, and then apply it a few minutes later (which anybody on the planet can do in the same amount of time). Just Google "Midjourney prompting tips," and you will see what I mean.

Hence, a statement I often read is that AI is "Democratizing" art creation. It is indeed making it possible for people with no actual art or design skills to capitalize on all the artists throughout the centuries who have studied art, practiced their craft, and learned how to create beautiful art by interacting with their fellow artists—and doing it in seconds (and with no training, or licensing fees).

But, since everyone can access prompting tips, the only thing that realistically varies between prompters is the idea. Yes, some people have clever ideas. But again, they are not the artist; AI is.

Is this reduction in the human role in creating essential to understand? I think so.

The Ugly: The Death of Human Creativity

I know that sounds extreme, but I didn't come up with it. I saw it on Facebook as an advertisement for a company that will help you start an AI Creative Agency.

DEAL.AI had an ad on Facebook saying, "Human Creativity is Dead; Start an AI Creative Agency Instead."

Artsmart.ai asks on their homepage: "Why Pay a Graphic Designer $50-$500 Per Image When You Can Use ArtSmart AI to Create Anything You Want for as Little as $0.00542?"

Many more companies are doing the same, and they all agree that if you have AI, you don't need a Creative.

At least they are being honest.

The logic behind this is that AI is inevitable, and if it is, then it is wise to embrace it before others do so that you are not left behind; solid logic. However, the motives for embracing it can vary depending on what aspect of business you are involved in, and the outcomes may not be what you expect.

Are you a business owner? If so, you know it is good for businesses to dramatically reduce costs and development time for your branding, graphics, animation, effects, etc. AI could help significantly in those areas, so yes, it is understandable you would embrace it. But so will all your competitors. Many people will lose their creative jobs and be replaced by a prompter, which will be the case across the board. What you thought would be an advantage will be accessible to everyone quickly and easily, so, in the end, there is no real advantage.

Are you a Creative? Well, AI is inevitable, so positioning yourself as one of the first Creatives to embrace it and as someone who can help companies navigate the shift to AI seems smart. And yes, you may do well—for a while. But remember, anyone can now use AI and quickly learn prompting methods. You will be a prompter, not a Creative—and an easily replaceable prompter. So, be really nice to work with and willing to take a pay cut when the boss figures out how quick and easy AI is getting, and you might be okay. And maybe see a therapist for your depression.

And The Horrid: Fraud

Most of the time, people posting AI images online are making it clear that it is AI. Good for them.

But I regularly see people commenting on "fine art" on Facebook, which is clearly AI. The commenters don't realize that the image is AI. It isn't surprising that many people don't understand what AI can do; it's just not a part of their lives.

Because of the innocent naivety regarding AI, fraudsters try to sell AI-generated "original oil paintings" for the “discount price” of $2K instead of $5K. They may even make a few sales and then disappear to another social media platform. The buyer would be out $2K and never hear from that "artist" again. This is also done with fake AI stained glass lamps, pillows, sculptures, etc.

And it's not just happening with art. I read about a novelist trying to get Amazon to stop selling fraudulent novels with her name on them. She did not write them; someone used ChatGPT to write them and used Amazon to reach her fans. Initially, Amazon told her they could do nothing about it, but eventually, Amazon got rid of them. She said she was still worried it would become like Whack-a-Mole since they were popping up so fast. It could be that by the time they figure out a book is fake, it has already defrauded her fans, made a bunch of money, and then disappeared. Fans who hear about this will have to wonder if that “new novel” is actually hers.

That is why, when looking at almost any image I see online, I find myself asking, "Was that done with AI?" This question can clearly be applied to everything creative.

The Bottom Line is that AI is already being used to create fake items on many platforms, and it’s hard to imagine how those platforms will be able to keep up with them.

My Predictions...

Of course, I could be wrong about these. We will see.

The Bad Prediction 1: AI in General...

I agree; AI is inevitable. You saw Oppenheimer, yes? The huge difference is that the danger of nuclear weapons is very clear. People saw what a nuclear bomb was designed to do. It was horrifying. The motivation for never letting it happen is obvious, even for the bad guys. That makes getting hit by a nuclear bomb very unlikely (not impossible, but unlikely).

AI is much hazier; it will do some good things, even some great things. But I have the feeling that for every one of those good things, there will be a hundred bad things. AI's easy access and supersonic speeds will allow decent people to do many good things with it. For the very same reasons, other not-so-decent people will be able to do many bad things with it.

A potential irony is that the government will have to create numerous "Watchdog" organizations that use AI to anticipate how corrupt people could use AI. All the "Deep Fakes," fake documents, fake voice recordings, phishing scams, etc., will keep them busy.

And it will require really good AI programmers and prompters.

The Bad Prediction 2: AI in Creativity...

Businesses that need creative work will embrace AI because it is super-fast and much more affordable. There will be a transition period where artists are asked to start using AI. They may even "touch up" AI images. But it won't take long for prompters to figure out how to get AI to do all of the "polishing." Large numbers of Creatives will be laid off, and a much smaller number of prompters will replace them. Initially paying well, companies will see an increase in prompters looking for jobs, and high salaries will lower quickly.

It won't be long before AI dominates design, illustration, motion graphics, and visual effects. It won't even surprise me to see AI Fine Art galleries across the street from traditional galleries. The ability to make a living creating art of all kinds will be dominated by prompting, and as I pointed out, that is a very different experience.

The same will go for all commercial creative positions, such as scriptwriters, advertising writers, marketing, promotion, branding, voice-over artists, composers, and musicians. You get the idea. All of them will be replaced with AI prompters or have to modify their process to become prompters themselves. Former creators will be asking AI to do the very work they used to do.

Depression for young people who want to be creative will be rampant.

Honestly, I wish all of this wasn't the case and that I could be more optimistic, but the longer I watch AI grow, the more I see the problems—and on top of that, people promoting those same problems as if they are solutions. It is spreading out rapidly to every aspect of creativity imaginable. In an already overly polarized world, it isn't fun to see the world of creativity also polarizing.

I remember being a kid in grade school through high school who loved to do art. Even then, I had high hopes of making a living at it. I can now imagine what it would have been like to graduate high school and find out that my desire to do art would, at best, be reduced to a hobby. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have liked that.

Hopefully, the Good Prediction below will play out, and that won't necessarily be the case for today's young creative people.

The Good Prediction: That I am skeptical about

I do see many Creatives pushing back on AI. It seems possible that there will be enough of us to at least create a small "Human Creative Alliance" (my logo [not designed by AI] below).

It's hard to imagine large corporate businesses and production companies rejecting creative AI. That is just not going to happen.

But I hope the resistance to AI and a passion for human creativity will be strong enough among independent fine artists, fiction writers, musicians, photographers, etc., that the people saying "human creativity is dead" will have to admit that it is not totally true—close, but not totally.

If that happens, maybe young people will be motivated enough to learn to paint, design, illustrate, sculpt, and write—all the creative things people have done for thousands of years—and then they can experience all the human joy, interaction, and passion that goes with it.

And maybe even make a living at it.

Dare to dream! :-)

Thanks for reading!

If you found it helpful, please feel free to share.

Regards,

Ron Crabb
www.crabbdigital.com