 Prajna Sharma and Harmannat Kaur: Every technological revolution throughout history, from the invention of the printing press to the development of the camera, has changed the way we view and appreciate art. The latest milestone is artificial intelligence, which is becoming influential rapidly in the creative world. AI is now engaging in activities previously exclusive to human abilities, and some of the most discussed ones include art. This development has mixed reactions, both fascination and dread. On one hand, AI makes production of art more accessible, speeds up production, and provides new tools. On the other hand, it brings up issues with ownership and accountability, environmental concerns, cultural appropriation, and the exploitation of labour. Just like previous inventions, we are still in the initial stages of redefining art and setting the principles we require to use a new tool correctly. Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, once said, “I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.” Rooted in Japanese folklore, traditional styles, and Shinto spiritualism, Studio Ghibli’s hand-drawn, softly coloured everyday-scenes evoke deep nostalgia. Currently, AI systems are trained on vast datasets used to replicate artistic styles, often without the artists’ consent. Although the results might give a desired aesthetic of the art piece, they fall short of the memories, emotions, and cultural meanings embedded by artists into their work. In 2023, a group of American artists filed a lawsuit against companies like StabilityAI and DeviantArt for using their work without consent to train image-generating algorithms. That same year, a Freelancers Union study found 45% of digital artists lost commissions due to AI replacing creative services. The issue extends beyond ethics or style as it impacts livelihoods in an already undervalued industry. In South Korea, public backlash erupted when an AI-generated artwork won a national award over human artists. Despite its concerns, the benefits are hard to ignore. AI can create visuals, compose music, and support creative projects. Search engines use AI to analyse artworks and suggest alternatives, helping users explore new styles and perspectives. AI can democratise access to artmaking, allowing more people to engage with creative expression. AI has also expanded into music through tools like Aiva and Amper Music, which help generate melodies and harmonies that musicians can later refine. In video editing, AI assists with selecting shots and creating realistic animation, as seen in films like Bahubali and RRR. Tools like Murf and Speechify clone voices to create audio from samples. While entertaining, these tools also raise concerns about impersonation, as they can be used to impersonate people and are increasingly being used in voice call scams. AI makes digital art tools more accessible, especially for those with limited finances or geographic access. Everyone has the right to experience and make art. Certifications in data science, AI, and analytics from programs like IABAC can help artists use these tools meaningfully, enabling them to understand trends, use algorithms thoughtfully, and blend data with creativity in music, visual art, or storytelling. AI doesn’t have to replace human creativity, but rather be a collaborator. Used ethically, it can support artists by generating ideas, offering feedback, and refining compositions. It can handle mundane tasks like resizing images or cleaning sketches, freeing up time for conceptual work. To prevent careless use, education must teach how to coexist with AI, not depend on it entirely. While AI is expanding the boundaries of artistic expression, it also raises some concerns about fairness and sustainability. Globally, AI is fuelling a cultural crisis by appropriating ethnic art at the expense of marginalised communities. These systems often reinforce Western aesthetics, favouring Eurocentric features while erasing indigenous, rural, and ethnic identities. This form of appropriation disrespects living cultural expressions when many of these communities are fighting for recognition, and AI further silences their stories by turning them into mass-produced visuals. Powerful corporations like OpenAI, Google, and Meta operate in large unregulated spaces, using their influence to train AI on massive internet datasets, often without creators’ permission. This constitutes exploitation of creative labour. When people upload pictures during trends like the Ghibli art filter, they don’t realise their faces are stored in AI databases and used for image-generation, effectively stealing their identity. Once that data is absorbed, it cannot be undone. While cultural integrity is an important consideration, it's equally important to reflect on how AI might influence the livelihoods of those who depend on their creative talents. For many, art is not just work, but a way of life. Replacing that with machines is not progress but erasure. Who will protect them if their labour is no longer respected or rewarded? The ethical gap with AI is growing, especially where regulations are absent. Companies frequently exploit generative AI to replicate art cheaply, without attribution or compensation. At the same time, misinformation is rising. AI-generated content has become so realistic that it is hard to tell what’s real. For example, a viral video showing a pet kangaroo being denied airplane boarding misled millions. Women, especially celebrities, are often targeted, facing misogyny and harassment through AI-generated/manipulated explicit content. Such images normalise violence and violate privacy and dignity, highlighting the need for enforceable ethical and legal limits on AI development and use. AI was initially meant to relieve humans of repetitive tasks so we could focus on creativity and leisure. Instead, it is now replacing intellectual and creative work, pushing people toward survival-based jobs. It encourages shortcuts over thought, making us less skilled and reflective. Over-reliance on AI risks lowering our collective capacity for original thinking. Beyond culture and labour, there's also the environmental impact that touches our planet and shared global resources. Data centres powering AI use huge volumes of water for cooling, often draining rivers and causing shortages. They produce e-waste with toxic chemicals and release greenhouse gases due to high energy use. From mining raw materials to discarding old machines, the AI lifecycle contributes significantly to pollution. When AI art trends go viral, the environmental damage magnifies. Now is the time to reflect on the kind of future we are building. It should be a future where art could not risk feeling mechanical, emotionless, and disconnected from the human soul. That's why it's important to support artists, respect personal privacy, and care for the environment. We must ask ourselves: What do we want from creativity? Can machines ever truly capture the depth of human experience? What do we lose when we trade craftsmanship for convenience? Art is not just output. It is memory, emotion, and humanity. And no machine, no matter how powerful, can replace that.Harmannat Kaur and Prajna Sharma are undergraduate students at Plaksha University, driven by a shared passion for bridging technology with human-centered learning. While Harmannat focuses on emerging tech in education and aims for a career in consulting, Prajna brings insights from sociology and linguistics to strengthen communication in the tech world. Together, they represent a dynamic blend of technical acumen and humanistic thinking for impactful innovation. The Bigger Picture: Revisiting AI’s role in Art | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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