Work is seemingly becoming easier for some people because of the rise of AI technology.

Those who used to pay people for artwork have turned to using AI generators such as Midjourney to put out their “own” works of art and declare them as their own masterpieces.

Honestly, it’s a long discussion, and lots of heated debates have already been made on various platforms. From an artist’s point of view, AI in its current form is harmful, soulless, and an act of theft.

https://twitter.com/ArielDumas/status/1655233258928365568

Not only can AI steal work from artists, but it can also steal a prestigious global photography award.

German artist Boris Eldagsen won the Sony World Photography Awards for the creative category recently. He refused to accept the award after revealing the fact that his winning entry was not actually made by him but was created using AI instead.

Much like how AI is not art, Boris Eldagsen also said that AI is not photography.

He only submitted his piece, Pseudomnesia: The Electrician, because he wanted to test the competition and hopefully open a discussion about the use of AI and the future of photography.

https://twitter.com/gracealmeradk/status/1646970447873953828

“I wanted to see if competitions are prepared for AI images to be handed in, and they are not,” he said. “It’s very important that they are aware that there will be more and more AI-generated images in photo competitions, and it should not be mixed up. It’s two different things – they look the same, but they shouldn’t be in the same category.”

In the Facebook post below, Eldagsen provided updates on his refusal of the acclaimed prize.

“Having been a photographer for 30 years before I turned to AI, I understand the pros and cons of this debate and will be happy to join the conversation,” Eldagsen wrote.

AI is a wonderful tool if used correctly, but it is still unrefined. It should not steal other people’s work and it should not be treated as a replacement for human talent.

Which side are you on when it comes to the use of AI?