The Left Has Found a New Thing to Complain About: AI Art
The Left. They're a curious bunch, aren’t they? One day, they’re campaigning fervently for supermarkets to charge for plastic bags to save our planet. The next, they’re insisting that the government tax billionaires at 70% of their income, arguing that this will solve poverty and inequality. Because, of course, the government – which can print money at will – knows best how to handle our cash, right? Never mind the complexities of market forces and the value of money.
Rallying Against Technological Advancements
When they're not busy saving the world one plastic bag at a time, you might find them rallying against the latest technological boogeyman: AI. Just last week, the app Lensa AI soared to the top of the charts thanks to its feature that generates AI images from facial inputs. However, it quickly became a target. This AI, which learned from publicly available photos (including those by artists), caused a stir. Artists, especially those leaning left/liberal, were up in digital arms, accusing it of theft and calling for governmental intervention.
Before diving deeper, let me clarify my stance. Economically, I’m a centrist. I support government intervention when our planet or society’s future is at stake but otherwise believe in letting the free market do its thing. I advocate for healthcare regulation to prevent unnecessary deaths. On social issues, I lean slightly left, supporting initiatives for equal opportunities and against gender biases in child-rearing. Yet, I often find myself baffled by some of the Left's causes. Yes, I’m looking at those who constantly complain about being misgendered.
The Legality of AI Data Mining
Let’s address the legality. There's no law against creating algorithms from public data. This practice, known as data mining, is legal and widespread, used in everything from advertising to networking. How different is this from AI learning from public photos? It’s not fundamentally different. An artist can improve their skills by studying others’ work, much like AI learns from data – though the AI is faster and more efficient.
Emotional Reactions and Job Displacement
Rallying against something because it hurts your feelings isn't a solid strategy. And what about job displacement? Sure, it’s unfortunate to be replaced by a machine, but it’s an unavoidable reality. Self-checkouts and factory robots are just the beginning. However, let’s not jump to conclusions about artists being ousted by AI. Art commissions require details and nuances tailored to a client’s vision – something AI can’t replicate (yet). So fears of mass artist unemployment due to AI are a bit premature.
I can hardly wait for the next wave of indignation from "The Left." It’s always a thrilling ride.
