Liberals Must Flood The World With AI Art
The Abundance Liberal case for AI Art is simple.
AI Art, simply put, democratizes art creation and removes gatekeepers. It does for art what social media did for publishing (which you might decry, but also, you are on Substack as you decry it). This is not necessarily a bad thing, although, like in the social media case, it will lead to some mixed effects down the line.
While the effects on artists and artistic gatekeepers are obvious, we should also look at the good of AI Art. As said, AI democratizes art creation, and in doing so makes art abundant. Anyone with an AI generation account can generate virtually any 2D visual art. And unlike what many online anti-AI people (or “Antis”) like to claim—
—few people can actually tell the difference between AI art and human-created art. Only when AI artwork is tagged as such do the differences become “clear” and the hatred become clearer.
The Democratization of Art is both humble and profound in its effects. A poor person for a few bucks a month (or $0 if they’re willing to brave Stable Diffusion) can create an endless amount of art, customized to their interests and imagination, while bypassing the years of study traditionally necessary. For a few bucks more they could have their artwork printed and hang it around their domicile, beautifying their space in custom works meaningful to them. Bespoke beauty is now within reach of everyone. That is what AI is bringing to us.
The “Antis” would block this, in the name of protecting artists. To be clear, I have nothing against artists. But I’m not going to put down the most exciting tool in a generation in order to protect them, just as I wouldn’t put down social media to protect newspapers. While Antis would fight to ensure that art remains in the hands of the gatekeepers, Liberals should ensure that AI art is as respected as any other artistic method or tool. In this, we stand with the many against the few.
Those of us who take an Abundant view of things should not shy away from this technology. Instead, we should undertake the beautification of America and the world. We should flood the world with art, beautify our surroundings, and ensure that everyone can partake in creation and enjoyment of art — whether as generators or consumers. A liberal society is not merely one that feeds and clothes its people, but one that cultivates their ability to imagine, to ornament, to express. AI makes that possible — not in elite studios, but in every home.
The tools are in our hands. Let’s use them. Post your AI art everywhere. Label it, or don’t. Decorate your homes and neighborhoods with it. Make AI art abundant.
