The Evolution of AI Art

Did you know that one of the world's most expensive pieces of art is AI-generated? How did #aiart evolve and how did it become so famous?

This week, we explore a series on #AI art, decoding everything from its relevance to ethics. And today, we begin by tracing the history of AI art, right from its inception to where it stands today.

Back in the 1960s, computer scientist and #artist Vera Molnar began using an #algorithm to create abstract and geometric forms. This would go on to become the first step, paving the way for what would spiral into a giant with endless possibilities over half a century later.

In the late 80s and early 90s, artists such as Harold Cohen and David Em began exploring the possibilities of AI art in new and exciting ways. Cohen created the AARON program, which was capable of generating abstract drawings, while Em created a machine that could paint. However, these early examples were limited in their scope and capabilities. The world's first AI-generated painting, like Em envisioned, still wouldn't be possible for decades.

And this is where the 2000s changed the game.

The 21st century has seen a surge in interest in AI art, with many companies and individuals using #machinelearning algorithms to create unique works. One of the most famous examples is 'The Next Rembrandt', a 3D-printed portrait created by J. Walter Thompson Amsterdam in 2016. Thompson used over 150,000 images of Rembrandt's work and machine learning algorithms while making the world's first AI-generated painting.

The field has only grown phenomenally ever since.

In 2018, 'AICAN', was created by the Paris-based art collective Obvious. The program was trained on a #dataset of over 15,000 paintings all the way from the 14th to the 20th century and was able to generate its own pieces of art. The very next year, one of AICAN's pieces was sold for $432,500 at a Christie's auction, making it one of the world's most expensive pieces of art.

DRAFTJS_BLOCK_KEY:59gsuThe 21st century has seen a surge in interest in AI art, with many companies and individuals using

The rise of AI art even led to the creation of the world's first AI #artmuseum, which opened in Paris in 2019.

Today, AI art can be created by programming algorithms to mimic specific styles, such as the work of #vincentvangogh or Pablo #picasso. AI art has the potential to evolve and adapt over time, as it can be trained on new #Data and algorithms, making it a living and evolving form of art. It can also use a variety of mediums, including digital paintings, 3D prints, and #sculptures. It can generate its own unique styles and forms, and has the potential to bring new perspectives and techniques to the world of art. However, the field sparks its fair share of controversy.

The nature of art and creativity, the ethics of AI-generated pieces of artwork and the question of human sensibility-driven meaningfulness dominate the debates around whether AI art should even exist or not.

From its early roots in the 1960s to its rise as a mainstream form of art in the 21st century, AI art has challenged our preconceptions about the role of technology in the artistic sphere. With more accessibility and popularity being gained every day, it is exciting to think about what the future of this art form may hold.

Do you think AI-generated art will replace human artists? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned to learn more about AI art this week.