Art In A Click:

Anna Goodson is founder & president of Montreal-based Anna Goodson Illustration Agency.

If an Algorithm Generates Art, is it Art?

As the founder and president of Anna Goodson Illustration Agency, I represent illustrators and motion graphics artists from all over the globe. I have had a front-seat view on how technology has changed the industry over the last few decades. Now, on the brink of another huge change, it’s clear to me that AI is here to stay, and it’s only going to become more powerful.

Does that mean AI-generated art is a threat to artists who have spent years honing their artistic skills and building their careers?

As everyone knows by now, AI models have been trained using artists’ original art. The problem is that artists aren’t being credited or compensated for that use. Similar to stock illustrations, the resulting AI art is copyright-free, leaving human artists feeling colossally cheated and alarmed. A U.S. law firm has already announced a class-action lawsuit against three AI companies alleging that copyrighted images were used in a dataset without any consent from or compensation to the artists.

Some may argue that imitation happens every day, even without AI. Gemma Correll, one of the illustrators I represent, has had her work outright taken, reproduced, and sold for profit. Another, Pablo Lobato, has seen images that imitate his signature style. Appropriating without consent is not new, and how AI legislation will evolve over time is still unknown.

In addition to the issue of infringement, illustrators and creators are concerned about how AI-generated art will impact their career opportunities. Illustrators worry that companies and art directors looking for quick, cheap art that is “good enough” will turn to AI rather than commissioning artists and paying them. Readily available AI art may end up devaluing the illustrators’ craft.

But an illustrator’s craft is much more than the sum of her technical skills. Each work is a story infused with experiences, emotions, and a way of seeing the world that is deeply human. Creative expression is a fundamental human need. The emotion that an artist brings to a project is something AI cannot bring. The technical quality of AI art is phenomenal, but the result is somewhat cold. Artists create from a place deep inside that requires feeling, sensitivity, and passion. Illustrators are hired for their individuality, diversity, and distinctiveness. They are born to create; no bot will ever be able to replace that creative drive.

Before AI, stock art was a threat to commissioning original art. Before that, it was clip art. Now, there are also royalty-free illustrations. But how has that impacted my agency and my artists? Truthfully, it hasn’t. High-caliber publications and brands are not going to use those sources; they are going to want something exclusive, original, and profoundly human.

“Some artists may opt to use AI as an exploration or research tool to help with storyboarding or testing ideas.“

Decades in this business have taught me to see the difference, both in terms of the quality of the art and the seriousness of the client. With budget cuts, some creatives will opt for cheaper sources, but I am confident that sophisticated creatives who see the value of original, custom-created art will continue to commission.

I’ve also seen social change in how underrepresented minorities and previously taboo topics have moved into the light. The industry has demonstrated a keen interest in cultural diversity and increased sensitivity to marginalized perspectives. Illustrators are often advocates for social change. It’s hard to imagine how this social consciousness, connectivity, and exploration of identity can be harnessed by AI. It’s not just a matter of having a program create—or imitate— art. It’s about digging deeper into themes of identity, social justice, and inclusivity that connect us all.

It’s too early to see how AI will affect our agency and our artists. But creatives who use AI art are not my audience. I work with people who appreciate the deeply human storytelling and messaging that comes from lived experience. Our clients want to create impact with original, culturally relevant artwork that has a personal tone and a signature style.

Some artists may opt to use AI as an exploration or research tool to help with storyboarding or testing ideas, a bit like they use tools like Pinterest as a mood board for inspiration. If there’s something to take away from the development of AI, it’s an opportunity to learn more and extend our abilities. When artists use a tablet or software to draw or illustrate, are we worried that people are not going to buy paint anymore?

All the same, the way we value art and artists is being tested. It’s up to the industry to continue educating society and advocating for original art. AI cannot replicate artists’ nuanced take on the complexities of our existence, because it’s missing a key ingredient: passion. AI will never be able to make art with heart.

If we want illustrators to do what they were meant to do, which is to create original, impactful imagery, we have to continue commissioning them and celebrating their diversity. We must nurture artists who want to live from their art, no matter the art form.

Though much of the debate on AI has come from a place of negativity and doom, I prefer to come from an optimistic and positive mindset. I understand people’s fear and concern. But I believe that creatives will continue to see the value in working with humans and telling human stories, because they are marketing to humans, not to robots.

This story originally appeared in the Summer 2023 issue of Applied Arts magazine. To subscribe, for just $19.99 a year, click here.