Many photographers view AI image creators as harmless tools, believing there’s nothing to be concerned about. However, some argue that these AI systems have the potential to replace most photographers sooner than we think, and I have to agree.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past year, you’ve probably witnessed the impressive capabilities of image creators powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Companies like DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, and Midjourney have generated millions of images that, even to the trained eye, appear like real photographs. These creations are generated in a matter of seconds, simply by entering a few words as a prompt. No cameras or photographers are required anywhere in the process.
Many people are understandably captivated by the wonder of these programs, but may not fully grasp the significant impact they will have on various visual artists, including photographers. I have personally witnessed many creatives downplay AI as just another tool, but unlike many helpful aids photographers use to streamline their workflow, this latest “tool” has the potential to entirely eliminate the need for photographers altogether. Artist Steven Zapata recently addressed this very issue in his video, where he presents several counterarguments to those who dismiss AI as nothing to be worried about.
Zapata starts his presentation with the primary concerns around the ethical landscape surrounding AI-generated art, which is that many AI systems, in their current form, rely on the collection and utilization of vast amounts of copyrighted material without consent or compensation from the original creators. This raises serious ethical questions about intellectual property rights and the exploitation of creative work. What these current practices mean to the likes of you and me, is that if you have any visual presence online, there is a chance your images are being used to train these AI systems which means they could potentially recreate your signature style of photography without the need for you at all.
The video also delves into predictions about where these systems will be in the near future, emphasizing their potential to tap into the pulse of the Internet and automatically respond in ways that creative humans traditionally do with their art. While this may sound like science fiction, we already witness AI tailoring content on social media, in e-commerce, and in advertising to better suit individuals. It’s not a far stretch to imagine AI automatically generating imagery in response to trending online events or creating website visuals to boost sales. Again, these processes could all be done without the need for a photographer.
Zapata’s presentation is a long one, at close to 50 minutes in length, but it is jam-packed with thought-provoking points that we all need to get a grasp of as these AI image creators mature. One of the last points that is raised in the video is how AI is slowly replacing jobs that people actually enjoy doing. This got me thinking about the mental health implications that these companies could have on individuals and how their introduction has the potential to affect photographers not just financially but also emotionally. For those who say AI is just another tool and that we have nothing to worry about, I implore them to watch this video and think again.
Does AI really have the ability to replace all photographers in the future? What do you think is the best way to prepare for these eventualities? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
