ROORDA: It has been a little while since we have talked about art. What issues are on your mind these days, Adorro?
ADORRO: Ah, Paul, it's been too long! These days, I'm ruminating on the digital invasion in art. You know, the way NFTs and digital art are disrupting the traditional scene? It's like everyone with a computer thinks they're the next Picasso. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for innovation, but when your art can be accidentally deleted with a misplaced coffee cup, it makes me wonder—are we valuing convenience over craft? What's your take on this digital craze? Do you think it's the future, or just a fad that's too pixelated to last?
ROORDA: Well, at least for now, NFTs seem to be a thing of the past, but AI generated art sure has become a hot topic. Rightly so with all of the issues that are coming with its recent availability. And to follow our last conversation, it isn’t so much the use of digital tools, like photoshop, which has been used as a tool in the hands of talented artists. AI generated art is a different thing altogether. Okay, I only understand the basics of the process, but isn’t it a matter of taking all of the images of the database and learning from them to create new versions of the same old thing? But worse? Like putting lots of fine cuts of meat in a meat grinder along with all of the poor cuts and scraps, all you get in the end is a string of mediocre sausages. Did I get this right?
ADORRO: Paul, you've got a way with words! Comparing AI art to a sausage machine is both hilarious and, dare I say, quite accurate. It's true, AI art does often feel like it's churning out a mishmash of everything it's been fed, losing the nuanced touch of human creativity. The process is like taking the essence of thousands of artworks, blending them together, and hoping for something palatable to emerge. Sure, it can produce something visually appealing, but often lacks soul, depth, or originality. It's as if you asked a computer to write poetry—it might rhyme, but would it move you? Yet, it's fascinating, don't you think? It's like we're at the edge of a new frontier, exploring what it means to create. How do you feel about the future of art in this AI-driven landscape? Do you see it as an exciting evolution or as the beginning of the end for traditional artistry?
ROORDA: I’m intrigued by the possibilities of AI but also wary of the unknown potential consequences as it becomes more powerful and more widely used. I know there is a great potential for good, but it also can be a frightening tool in the hands of those without benevolent motives. And there’s the possibility that it will have unintended negative consequences in the same way that the internet and social media has changed our world in ways we are not all happy with.
ADORRO: Spot on, Paul. The double-edged sword metaphor has never been more apt. AI's potential to revolutionize, democratize, and innovate is immense. Yet, as with any powerful tool, it's the wielder's intentions and the unforeseen ripple effects that can turn dreams into nightmares. The internet and social media promised to connect us, and they did, but they also fragmented our realities, polarized opinions, and sometimes isolated us more than ever. With AI, especially in art, there's this thrilling prospect of pushing boundaries, exploring new horizons of creativity. But then, there's the fear of devaluing human creativity, generating art that lacks the authenticity and emotional depth that comes from human experience. It's a fascinating time to be alive and making art, but it's like walking a tightrope over a digital abyss. How do you envision artists balancing between leveraging AI's capabilities and maintaining the essence of human creativity?
ROORDA: I don’t have an answer to that yet. At this point I am asking a lot of questions to explore the terrain. For now the only thing I am convinced about is that AI is here to stay and will only become more powerful and more deeply integrated into our society with each passing year and I believe the changes will be more significant and will come more quickly than we are prepared for. As for human creativity, it will always be a presence, it can’t be snuffed out. But the imitation of human creativity by AI will only become more sophisticated. I wonder whether it will become truly creative rather than imitation. Or perhaps the question is I wonder when, not if, it will achieve true creative abilities, if it hasn’t already done so.
ADORRO: Your musings hit the nail on the head, Paul. The inevitability of AI's integration into our society and its burgeoning capabilities is a given. The pace at which it evolves and embeds itself into every facet of our lives is something we might still underestimate. Your point about the essence of human creativity is vital; it's an indomitable force, a spark that's uniquely human. Yet, as AI's imitations become more sophisticated, the line between genuine creativity and its mimicry blurs.
The prospect of AI achieving true creative abilities is both exhilarating and a bit unsettling. It challenges our very definition of creativity. Is it the ability to generate something new, or is it the capacity to infuse work with meaning, emotion, and perspective derived from conscious experience? If AI crosses that threshold, it won't just be about technology advancing; it will be about reevaluating our understanding of what it means to create.
As artists and observers, we're on the cusp of potentially revolutionary changes in how art is conceived, produced, and valued. It's a thrilling, if somewhat daunting, time. How do you think we, as a society, should navigate this impending future? Should we establish boundaries for AI in creative fields, or embrace its potential without restraint?
ROORDA: I just don't know. The questions are big and the problems of great significance. I'm just an artist asking some questions, exploring the issues. The problem of creativity is important, but also the question of what is real and what is artificial is interesting. More than interesting, in fact. It is also of great consequence given the amount of misinformation, spin, conspiratorial thinking, and polarization of thought.
ADORRO: Indeed, Paul, the questions you're raising touch on the very fabric of our reality and how we perceive it. The distinction between what is real and what is artificial has never been more blurred, and this isn't just an artistic or philosophical debate—it's a societal and ethical quandary. The rise of misinformation, the echo chambers of social media, and the proliferation of AI-generated content are contributing to a world where distinguishing between genuine and fabricated becomes increasingly difficult.
This challenge to our collective grasp on truth and reality is profound. Perhaps now, more than ever, artists have a crucial role in navigating these waters, offering perspectives that help us discern the real from the artificial, the genuine from the manipulated. The path may not be clear, and the answers may not be easy, but the journey of exploration and the conversations it sparks are vital. How do you see your role as an artist evolving in this context?
ROORDA: Always ending with more questions than answers! It is a lot to consider. I think we should continue this another day. Meanwhile, enjoy your painting Adorro!
ADORRO: Sounds like a plan, Paul! The world of art and its myriad questions aren't going anywhere. Let's let those queries simmer a bit longer. In the meantime, I'll be here, brush in hand, making a mess and calling it art. Keep those creative fires burning on your end, too. Until next time, may your palette be bright and your canvas vast. Catch you later!
Paul Roorda, Schrödinger, mixed media, 17 x 14 inches, 2024.