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Can artificial intelligence create a true work of art?

When artist Sougwen Chung works in conjunction with an AI model she's trained - for instance, causing a black oil paint stroke with a brush - a robot replicates her actions. However, at a certain juncture, the robot independently proceeds and creates something novel without Chung's continued...

Artificial intelligence capable of producing a renowned artwork?
Artificial intelligence capable of producing a renowned artwork?

Can artificial intelligence create a true work of art?

In the realm of art, a pioneering figure is challenging traditional notions of authorship and pushing the boundaries of human-machine collaboration. Sougwen Chung, a former fellow of MIT Media Lab and Google Artist in Residence, is redefining the creative process by working with robots to physically paint abstract art.

Chung's collaborative approach exemplifies a dynamic, dialogic creative process where human and machine interactively co-create abstract paintings. This partnership blends hand-drawn marks with robot-generated strokes, creating a unique blend of control, randomness, and interaction.

Chung's robotic partners respond to her gestures and drawing style in real time, allowing for an ongoing dialogue between the artist's intuition and the robot's programmed behaviors. This process involves using machine learning algorithms and robotics to create dynamic, evolving artworks where the boundaries between human-made and machine-made marks blur.

Chung's work positions AI and robotics as co-creators that contribute abstract elements autonomously, leading to a fluid and intuitive form of expression. This interplay is central to Chung's exploration of how machines can augment human creativity by producing unexpected visual results and expanding the vocabulary of abstract art.

Beyond her artistic practice, Chung reflects philosophically on the intersection of AI and human creativity. In her 2023 New York Times essay "Where Does A.I. End and We Begin?", she brings critical questions about agency, authorship, and the evolving nature of artistic practice in the age of intelligent machines to the fore.

Chung's collaboration with robots in painting abstract art is not just about the output of organic and beautiful paintings, but also about exploring themes of hybridity, co-creation, and the shifting boundaries of artistic authorship. The mirroring and echoing between humans and machines, as seen in the robot's mimicking of Chung's movements, is fascinating to Chung.

However, Chung does not directly address the fear of AI in the world or America, focusing instead on the potential for both positive and negative extensions of humanity through AI. She expresses concern about the dark aspects of humanity that could be extended through AI, leading to fear and negative perceptions.

In summary, Sougwen Chung's collaboration with robots in painting abstract art positions AI and robotics as co-creators, uses machine learning and robotics to generate abstract marks blending with hand-drawn elements, explores themes of hybridity, co-creation, and the shifting boundaries of artistic authorship, and reflects a dynamic, dialogic creative process where human intuition and machine autonomy inform the artwork together. Chung's work serves as a testament to the potential of AI and robotics to augment human creativity and expand the vocabulary of abstract art.

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