By: Jane Tabet Kirkpatrick
Bing Image Generator's interpretation of the command "screenplays, paintings, and poems flowing out of a robot"
I can hum the chorus in my head: video killed the radio star. I’m sure you can hear it in your head, too. I’m not sure if The Buggles originally intended for their hit song to give breath to a larger conversation about the potential malicious consequences of technological advancement—or if they simply wanted to drop one of the best pop choruses of all time and dip off the face of the Earth. Surely, they couldn’t have predicted just how emails would obliterate whatever a fax machine is, or how quickly VHS tapes would be outpaced by their sleeker counterparts, the compact disk. The efficiency that has been created by each progressing technology has exponentially increased as time goes on. There are advancements that claim more accolades than others, of course, but if each of these technologies amounted to a grain of sand on the island of progress, then Artificial Intelligence has its own personal beach with a private residence.
AI’s pattern recognition and nuanced comprehension elevates precision across diverse domains, spanning from medical diagnosis to financial projection and has even tried its hand at poetry. AI has fundamentally changed the way in which we work and create. It stands as a transformative paradigm, endowing society with an arsenal of advantages. AI offers itself not merely as an advancement, but as an intellectual accomplice to the human experience. In layman's terms: it’s basically what Taylor Swift is to the music industry right now. However, the rising use of AI software and its access to a growing amount of infinite information has started to create consequences for people like Taylor Swift and other creatives.
Comparatively, when similarly-renowned innovations such as the computer and high-speed internet sprouted up, there befell a slew of conversations about the potential dangers: Would computers begin to take over jobs? Would they replace the modern day office worker? And even the classic possibility of our machines becoming self-aware. Part of what calmed these fears of AI self-realization was the inability of computers to be creative. What sets aside humans from their electronic counterparts is the ability to create. Alan Turning, one of founding fathers of the modern computer, echoes the words of his colleague, Geoffery Jefferson: “Not until a machine can write a sonnet or compose a concerto because of thoughts and emotions felt, and not by the chance fall of symbols, could we agree that machine equals brain,”. Traditional philosophy led many to believe that creative jobs would be safe from the slow creep of computer job replacement.
There remains a philosophical debate taking place over whether or not we should allow machines to create movie and show scripts, digital art for movie posters and covers, and even create original songs that match a person's specific style and voice. With the capability to create any image—in any size, in any context, in any situation, across any virtual form—there exists a rippling pool of consequence. A good example can be observed in Hollywood, specifically in regards to the writers, actors, and directors who work there. Many actors who live in Los Angeles and depend on background acting work are being replaced. As NPR reported, “The potential for artificial intelligence to replace background actors is one of the central tensions in the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike with studios, the biggest labor dispute in Hollywood since the 1960s.” Background actors on the set of WandaVision (who earn about $187/day) were asked to stand in front of cameras in various positions. A digital replica was then created of them. The actors were never told if their image would be used and were given a rather offensive offer: they could be paid for one full day of work the after they were scanned, and the production company could use their image for future projects the performer was hired for.
Struggling screen writers are also at risk. One notable area of concern is the use of AI-generated scripts and storylines. As AI algorithms analyze vast amounts of existing scripts and data, they can generate plots, characters, and dialogues, potentially making a writer’s role in a creative project obsolete. Nonetheless, AI-generated writing processes might lead to a dilution of originality and creativity: since AI-generated content relies heavily on existing data, it may inadvertently perpetuate certain story tropes, themes, and character archetypes that have been historically prevalent in the industry. This can hinder the exploration of new perspectives and underrepresented stories that are vital for enriching storytelling. However, it’s clear that the bottom line of these production companies is getting viewers. Consumers may not even care if their content is generated by AI if it is entertaining. It’s also concerning how AI is coming now, as content absorption is at an all-time high, creating an impossible demand for content.
Digital art and mixed media art is at a great risk of being replaced by AI, with the ability to linguistically dictate an image you want and have a completely original work that is created in the matter of seconds. Many digital artists have raised concerns about being replaced by AI to improve the CEO's bottom line.
The onset of AI is no doubt a tune of ongoing debate and open argument—some less famous lyrics from the same Buggles song ring out to me: we can’t rewind/we’ve gone too far. (Another cryptic warning from this one hit wonder?) Whether we like it, or not AI is here to stay. It has no doubt made things like grocery shopping, managing personal accounts, creating recipes, or even writing quick essays much easier. And while the dangers of AI are alarming, I would be hypocritical to not admit its utility in my everyday life, even in my creative pursuits. In fact, I used AI to compose roughly 30% of this essay. (I encourage you to try and guess which paragraphs were written through ChatGPT, a popular form of generative AI, and then check if you were right using the screenshot pasted below).
Using AI can lead to massive progress for our society if used ethically. Establishing those ethics will require the input of many voices including those most threatened by certain advancements. AI right now is being used to enrich the bottom lines of CEOs, but it could be used as a collaborative technology that aids in solving hugely complex problems that require massive data analysis. As put in its own words: AI is more likely to transform work rather than completely eliminate it. Many tasks can be automated, but there will still be a need for human oversight, creativity, and decision-making in various domains. The relationship between AI and work is dynamic, and its effects will depend on how society, businesses, and policymakers navigate this evolving landscape.
With all my conflicting thoughts, I’m ultimately left in pensive hesitation. Even though the war between creatives and AI remains to be waged, I can only hope that the collaboration between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence will compose a symphony of innovation, propelling us toward a future where the video girls can live in harmony with the radio stars.
AI-generated sections reveal:
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