If you are a true art fan, you don’t value good sounds or colors but stories that are exclusive to the human experience.
What a true music fan wants
I’ve been a huge Michael Jackson fan since I was five years old. His music, his dance moves, and his incredible performances have all been a significant part of my life. Imagine my excitement when I visit a museum to see the very shoes he wore during the legendary Motown concert, widely known as one of his greatest performances and the kickoff to his solo career. Just thinking about it gives me chills. But now, imagine if someone tells me that these aren’t the actual shoes he wore at the concert, but another pair of the same model from the same year. How would I feel? I’d be furious. I’d demand my money back. Why? After all, I came to see a pair of shoes, right? But it’s not just about the shoes. As a Michael Jackson fan and a music enthusiast, I care deeply about the story behind those shoes. I want to look at them and think about how Michael prepared for that performance for so long, how he cried afterward because it wasn’t perfect enough for him. These shoes are part of his career, and his biography as a human. A child star growing up to become one of the world’s greatest performers and a role model to dancers like me. His story resonates with me and I can identify with him because he is human.
AI-generated Art lacks this one thing
This brings me to a broader point about AI and creative work. AI can create pictures, music, and even literature that are technically impressive. Studies show that systems like GPT-4 pass the Turing Test. You can read more about this on turingtest.live. But when I truly enjoy a piece of music or a painting, I want to know the story behind it. I want to know the person behind it and connect with the humanness of their journey. An AI can’t give me that. When I listen to a song, it’s not just about the melody or the rhythm. I think about the artist who created it, their experiences, their struggles, their emotions. That human connection is what makes the music special. Knowing that Michael Jackson poured his heart and soul into his performances, that he faced incredible pressure and still delivered, makes his music all the more meaningful to me. Similarly, when I read a book or admire a painting, I’m interested in the creator’s story. What inspired them? What challenges did they overcome? These elements add depth to the work and allow me to connect with it on a personal level. AI-generated content, no matter how flawless, lacks this human backstory. It can’t provide the context and emotional depth that come from lived experiences. Art, music, and literature are expressions of the human experience. They reflect our joys, our sorrows, our dreams, and our fears. They are a way for us to connect, to share our stories and our emotions. An AI, despite its capabilities, cannot feel or express these human experiences. It can mimic styles, generate beautiful images, and compose music, but it can’t create from a place of genuine emotion and personal history.
What Research says
Research supports this view. A study from the University of Oxford titled “AI and the Arts: How Machine Learning is Changing Artistic Work” highlights that while machine learning becomes a tool for artists, it won’t replace them. The creative decision-making process resulting in artwork cannot be replicated by current AI technology. The human agency remains essential in the creative process.
Moreover, despite complex algorithms, AI struggles to grasp the emotional depth and nuance that humans naturally bring to art. The authenticity of a piece — the human touch in every brushstroke or melody line — is something machines have yet to fully understand.
Why put AI above us when inappropriate?
In a world where AI is becoming increasingly sophisticated, let’s not forget the irreplaceable value of the human touch in creative work. The authenticity, the emotion, and the stories behind the art are what make it truly special. Just as I would be disappointed knowing the shoes I came to see were not the ones Michael Jackson wore, I would miss the profound human connection in art if it were created solely by machines. So, while I can appreciate the advancements in AI and the possibilities they bring, I believe there’s something irreplaceable about human-created art. The stories, the emotions, and the personal journeys of human creators add a depth and resonance that AI simply can’t replicate. As we continue to embrace technology, let’s not forget the irreplaceable value of the human spirit in our creative endeavors.
