Let’s be honest, now that AI is around, art will never be the same. While AI can be a useful tool, its growing presence has raised concerns among young artists who dream of pursuing creative careers. For students who have spent years developing their skills and passions, the expansion of AI feels like a threat to the opportunities they hope to have in the future.
CSArts students are already considering how AI could affect their conservatories and future careers. “I think AI is harmful, AI is taking away human opportunities and human creativity. There is no soul in AI art and I believe it will hurt visual artists as a whole,” Trista Wu, a sophomore in Visual Arts says.
The influence of AI-generated art has become increasingly visible online. Small AI-generated images can quickly become memes and trends, sometimes receiving more attention than artwork created by humans. For artists who dedicate hours to developing their skills and creating meaningful pieces, many say it makes them feel that their time and creativity are being undervalued.
AI also affects creative fields beyond visual art. “I think AI is particularly harmful for the creative writing conservatory because it causes people to think less and rely on something to do everything for them, which I don’t think is good for education,” Logan Philips, a sophomore in Creative Writing, says.
As AI develops and changes, students interested in art worry and wonder how their passions or finances will fit when AI is consuming the world. And the numbers don’t lie. A Carnegie Mellon study of professional visual artists found that over half report lost income, while 90% report lost commissions and career opportunities due to generative AI.
AI and Creative Writing