Culture Crash: How ChatGTP Is Changing the Arts Scene

In 2022, we saw an explosion of AI technologies: graphics-generators like Dali and Midjourney ruffled feathers in the art communities. The technology is simple enough: users type in any phrase or description, and the program spits out artwork matching that description. The programs can even imitate specific artists works, like Van Goh or Monet.

Then came ChatGPT, a chatbot that can write for you. Users can type in virtually any prompt. It can give you instructions on disposing of a Christmas tree, an explanation of what the Magna Carta is, or an essay on the symbolism present in the works of Ernest Hemingway. It’s incredibly diverse and usually accurate, though the programmers have warned that the program can get things wrong, so it may not be best to rely on the program’s instructions without vetting them.

With this explosion of technology has come a lot of worry: artwork from Midjourney won an art competition, much to the dismay of many in the arts community. ChatGPT has led to a lot of worry of students using the program, or others similar to it, to write their school essays for them, or at least give them a huge head start… and all of these concerns are justifiable! These programs are trained on other people’s writing and artwork, leading to plagiarism concerts, and any powerful new tools can of course be used for evil. Already schools are working to ban the use of these technologies, but the simple fact is that Pandora’s AI box has been opened. These programs are here, now, and they’re only going to grow more advanced. While entirely relying on AI to write a story, create a storyboard, or outline a script is boring and uninspired, the creatives who find a way to utilize the technology in unique, and honest ways – like say using it in the brainstorming phase or to augment a human-generated piece of art will likely find success. Yes, that’s kind of scary, but it is also a little exciting, as the opportunities now really are endless.