AI Isn’t Killing Art — It’s Setting It Free
cross-posted from Justin’s AI blog: Hello, AI
There’s a lot of noise out there right now about AI art, AI music, AI video — even AI writing. Many of you know that I dabble quite a bit in this space. Depending on who you ask, it’s either the death of creativity or the dawn of something extraordinary.
I’m firmly in the second camp.
Let’s be clear: AI doesn’t replace artists — it releases them.
Here’s why.
1️⃣ The Tool, Not the Thief
AI isn’t stealing brushes — it is the brush.
Artists still direct the vision, shape the prompt, and make the final call.
The spark is human. The stroke is digital.
Michelangelo used marble. We use models.
If you’ve ever used Photoshop, GarageBand, or Procreate — congratulations, you’ve already collaborated with code.
2️⃣ Not a Remix Machine
Critics say AI just copies old work. Nope.
It learns patterns the way a student studies masterpieces.
AI doesn’t “cut and paste.” It builds.
It fuses, mutates, and surprises — sometimes creating things no one’s seen before.
Think: Van Gogh meets vaporwave. Bach meets beat-drop.
Originality comes from the direction, not the dataset.
3️⃣ The Ethics Bit
Yes, we need rules. Consent. Credit. Compensation.
Bad actors steal. The tools don’t.
Let’s fix the data practices and licensing models — not ban the technology that’s democratizing creativity.
Punish plagiarism, not the paintbrush.
4️⃣ Jobs, Skills, and the “Artpocalypse”
Every creative revolution starts with panic.
The camera was going to kill painting.
Synthesizers were going to kill live music.
AI will just shift what we create and how.
Artists become art directors. Writers become editors of infinite possibility.
You’re not replaced — you’re amplified.
5️⃣ The Flood of Meh
Yes, AI will flood the world with wallpaper, stock jingles, and bad poetry.
But that’s fine — because curation beats prohibition.
More content means more gems. Taste still wins.
When everything looks average, authentic human art will shine brighter than ever.
6️⃣ The Upside Playlist
AI gives us:
Democratization: Anyone can create, no gatekeepers.
Acceleration: Faster iteration, more time for polish.
New Forms: Interactive, generative, living art.
Continuity: Every “heresy” becomes the next medium.
We didn’t kill music when we plugged into the amp — we made it louder.
AI is just the next instrument.
7️⃣ The Guardrails
We can keep this healthy:
Get consent and give credit.
Label AI-assisted work clearly.
Protect likenesses and voices.
Celebrate transparency, not secrecy.
Art thrives when audiences trust it.
🎯 The Bottom Line
AI isn’t killing creativity — it’s multiplying it.
We’re entering an era where ideas are the new raw material.
The barrier to entry is gone. The playground just got bigger.
Art is still human. It’s just got a new co-pilot.
BS!
Respectfully, I have to disagree with your perspective. I think it will dehumanise art - is already dehumanising art - to a dismal degree.
Great artists *see* the world differently, and their art changes our perception. AI cannot conceivably do this, as it recycles what has already been created.
It will be enough for most, and their horizons will never be expanded.
I have seen this in my profession as a singer; autotune hurts my ears and allows those who cannot sing but look good to rise to the top.
My sideline was as a translator. All gone now; companies do not care if the translation is faithful and perceptive, only that it is cheap.
And as an artist, oh, I can see that a few artists will cater to the elite whilst most will limit themselves to banality.
As a tool, AI is great. As a creative force, it is soul-destroying.