Pandora's Box is Open

We live in a world with AI - how does it affect us?

Everyone’s talking about AI these days, and for good reason!  Recently, I stumbled upon an AI music app that was really fun. All I had to do was input some lyrics and choose the style I wanted, and voila, the AI crafted an entire song for me. As someone who's written a lot of poetry over the years, it was pretty incredible to feed it my verses and hear the result.

I have also – just like everyone – played around with AI apps that create images. And let’s be honest: we all use ChatGPT, right? AI is already part of our lives, and it’s only going to grow from here.

But even though the possibilities are thrilling, we should pause to think about what AI is actually doing - and what it isn’t. Sure, AI can write text, but it’s pulling from an enormous database of existing writings to produce those sentences. Similarly, AI can create images, but those images are generated from a mix of real artworks and visuals that already exist. So, while AI is amazing, it's crucial to remember that it’s a tool, not the creator. You are still the creator. The original artists behind those works that AI references are the creators. AI is simply the vehicle, and you’re the one behind the wheel.

Some artists I know are concerned about AI, and I can understand why. But for me, art is about meaning and storytelling. If a piece is made by AI, it’s more of an illustration than true art. As an abstract artist, I’m not too worried. After all, abstract art is about channeling the soul of the artist - it’s a visual language that reflects inner feelings and thoughts. An AI app can create something visually appealing, but without the essence of a human spirit behind it, it’s not the same. It lacks the depth and meaning that real art carries.

AI is also changing the landscape of social media, and it’s going to have a huge impact on the fashion and modeling industries. We’re already seeing AI-generated influencers, and their presence is only going to grow. What’s stopping someone from creating a digital avatar that looks suspiciously similar to a real-life model?

As someone whose career revolves around appearance, it's becoming increasingly important to think about protecting our likenesses. With the rise of AI and digital manipulation, it won’t be long before we will need to copyright our looks to stop online duplicates from posing as us. It’s a growing issue that can’t be ignored.

Some celebrities have already taken steps to protect their looks by registering them as trademarks or intellectual property. In certain European countries, moral rights laws offer extra protection, shielding individuals from the misuse of their image in ways that could harm their reputation or be offensive.

However, the concept of "owning" your appearance, as you would a property, is still a bit of a legal grey area. It’s clear that more regulations are needed to keep up with the digital age, and the way our images are used online.

So, yes AI is both amazing and scary. We’ve only just beginning to see the effects it will have on our lives. In the end, AI is a tool with incredible potential. But as with any technology, we need to use it responsibly and ethically. Let's not forget that.

Beth xo

Me, not AI