Excerpted from the Art Practitioner’s Guide to Generative AI series by Natalie Diggins, Technologist and Founder of TheArts.ai.
When considering the use of generative AI, whether in the arts or any other field, there are a variety of ethical issues to consider. These issues require meticulous examination and resolution. For example, there may be concerns over bias and fairness, which question the impartiality of AI. There may also be concerns regarding originality and plagiarism, raising doubts about the authenticity of AI-created works. There’s the issue of manipulation and misinformation, where the possibility of AI being used to distort reality or mislead people is a significant concern. Finally, transparency and disclosure are pivotal, necessitating clarity about the use of AI. [Update – see footnote1These suggestions were drafted when generative AI became available to the general public. Since then, text citation practice has evolved. MLA Style, APA Style, Chicago Style and many academic standards have been updated to address textual generative AI contributions.
Outside of academia, practicing consensus has evolved that generative AI is a tool, similar to Microsoft Word’s Editor feature, Adobe Photoshop, and spellchecking software. Similar to how these tools aren’t cited, generally neither is generative AI. That said, while generative AI may be used as a tool, the nature of its contributions to content creation might warrant different considerations compared to more straightforward productivity software.
The bottom line is that there is no right answer. Citation is a work in progress, and you should use your own judgment based on content and context.
The critical and complex issues of creator permission, attribution, and compensation remain unsolved and appropriately controversial.]
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- Title or Description: In the title or description of your artwork, consider including a brief mention of the AI model or technique that influenced your creation. For example, you could mention “Inspired by GPT-3.5” or “Art generated using StyleGAN.”
- Artist’s Statement: In your artist’s statement, talk about the role of generative AI research in shaping your creative process. Discuss how you used AI models, algorithms, or concepts to inspire and inform your artistic choices.
- Credits or Acknowledgments: Create a section in your artwork presentation or website where you explicitly acknowledge the generative AI models or research that influenced your work. Mention the names of the AI models, research papers, or artists whose work inspired you.
- Combat Bias: When researching topics that have been historically mis or under-represented in the archive or canon, supplement your AI research with a deeper literature review. Rigorously test and assess AI-generated content for bias, and view any identified bias as an opportunity for critical examination and discussion within your creative work. Experimenting with various settings and parameters in the AI model can also help mitigate bias and promote more balanced and ethical outcomes.
- Provide Links: Whenever possible, provide links to the original AI research papers or projects that influenced your work. This allows viewers to explore the source of your inspiration and learn more about the AI models you used.
- Avoid Plagiarism: Ensure that your artwork is original and not a direct copy of someone else’s generated content. Artistic inspiration is about using ideas as a starting point and transforming them into something new and unique.
- Engage in Dialogues: Participate in discussions within the AI and art communities to foster a respectful exchange of ideas. Share your process, give credit to influential work, and be open to feedback and collaboration.
- Comply with Licensing: If you are using specific AI models or tools, ensure that you comply with their licensing and attribution requirements. Some models may have open-source licenses that require you to provide attribution when using them.
- Promote Ethical Use: Be conscious of the social and ethical implications of using AI in art. Promote responsible and ethical AI use by considering the impact of your work on society and individuals.
While ChatGPT’s response to the issue isn’t comprehensive, or necessarily correct or right for you individually, it can serve as a jumping-off point for further reflection and discussion.
Proofread by ChatGPT-4.