Rambling thoughts on AI and the future of artists (Patreon)

It’s been some time since my last blog. I won’t lie, I am worried.

Maybe it’s because I’m just not a good enough artist, but I can’t help thinking about how my livelihood might be impacted in the next few months or years. It even feels a bit unfair, the fact that I’ve only been able to make a living off my art for a year and now I’m already worrying about how I might lose it all.

Of course, I can only speak as a full-time freelancer, I don’t know how the industry people feel about this. I do imagine they will also experience significant changes, maybe even more so than I will.

Since AI blew up, the internet has been flooded with AI-generated images. While some were honestly labeled so, many actually claim to be the ‘artists’ who drew those images themselves. In terms of quantity, there’s no competition. It’s always been hard to attract attention and build a following as an artist, and it’s getting much worse now. How can you compete when it takes 7 to 12 hours to finish a fully-rendered piece, and the other guy can spit out 100 images in a few minutes?

Yesterday, I even came across multiple posts talking about people using AI to pretend they can do traditional art. I was actually amazed at the effort those grifters put into it, so much work to fake doing something.

Artists will have to work a lot harder if we want to stand out. I will have to work a lot harder, not just at getting better at art but also at marketing myself.

On the other hand, I also think (and hope) that the rise of boring AI images will boost the value of human imperfection, both in digital and traditional mediums. A blurred line here, a misplaced brush stroke there. For many, those imperfections will only make the art feel more special and personal.

I was recently gifted a poster with one of my fav directors’ signature. Every time I look at it, it feels like there’s an invisible thread connecting him to this piece of paper. Like somehow I can actually feel his presence right here in my room. That feeling would be impossible if the signature was, let's say, just another png file added to the poster. 

It's the human touch, and that demand for personal connection is something you cannot replace completely.

What do you guys think? I’d especially love to hear your thoughts if you’re also an aspiring digital artist.