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Joseph Harris's avatar

The other point to consider is that art isn't just consumed; it's also produced. Does art serve any purpose for the artist?

I think most of us would say yes. It's a form of self-expression and self-discovery, helping us process difficult experiences in our lives and put them into words or brushstrokes or music. It brings catharsis. And one important factor is that the *struggle* to produce art is where much of this value comes from. If I had ChatGPT write my story using my characters and my ideas, it's true that the stuff on the page would be guided by me and capture my ideas. But I doubt it would give me the space for reflection I desperately need.

I also think you're short-changing art by saying it only matters for its beauty or entertainment value. Because for me, art is communication. I have often felt that I know my favorite authors better than I know some of my friends. If AI took over, whose soul am I searching out at that point?

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Marcel van Driel's avatar

While I agree with everything you’ve said from a consumer point of view, my (visual) artist friends complain how AI is actually ripping of their hard work by “stealing” their style and transforming it into something they don’t get paid for. And especially since most consumers don’t care who made what, I do get their concern.

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