Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe
Photography, as a visual medium, has the ability to communicate ideas and promote change. The rapid development and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has uprooted photography’s traditional foundations of human cognitive and creative ability. Through mutilated glimpses of ourselves, the introduction of AI has offered fragmented reflections of human identity. Yongcai Chen defines AI as “a branch of computer science that aims to mimic and replicate the capabilities of human intelligence” (Chen, 2024). Marking a transformative shift in visual expression and transcending visual alterations of imagery. While simultaneously reflecting upon potential sociopolitical realities and challenging traditional ideas of authenticity, AI poses a threat to undermine the credibility of both the photographer and photographic culture. The convergence of AI and photography reflects upon the role of technology in the future mediation of human experiences. Allowing me to understand and foresee the future landscape for artistic creation, design and media consumption. The study focused on three key points: the current acceptance of artificial intelligence, the ethics, and the future of the practice. Seeking to examine how the multifaceted relationship between the substance and design of imagery may further implicate the role of the photographer and the audience.
The application of artificial intelligence has stirred a dynamic shift in the world of photography. For some, it’s a revolutionary tool that expands creative potential; for others, it’s a threat to the artist’s role, pushing the boundaries of what it means to create and be original. AI forces us to rethink authorship, creativity, and value. Back in 1967, conceptual artist Sol Lewitt wrote, “The idea becomes a machine that makes the art,” emphasizing concept over execution. This notion resonates today, as artists like Leonel Moura treat AI not just as a tool, but a collaborator.
His autonomous robot systems paint without direct human input, positioning AI not as a tool but as a collaborator; this shift iterates the successful participation. of human and AI creativity, inviting a fresh dialogue around authorship. This application and collaboration between humans and AI was central to the 2018 Artists & Robots exhibition in Paris. Works like Portrait on the Fly by Sommerer and Mignonneau invited viewers to co-create with swarms of digital flies reacting in real time.
In this space, audiences aren’t just consumers—they’re participants. However, the acceptance of a machine evolving from a tool to a co-creator continues to be criticised. Samo and Highhouse (2023) found that audiences felt more emotionally connected to human-made art, suggesting a stronger feeling of reflection, attraction, and amusement. Similarly, theorists like Frieder Nake critique the acceptance of AI, understanding “Algorithmic art has denies the concept of a masterpiece”, asserting that the each piece of generated artwork challenges the traditional notions of art, without a singular artistic vision.
Such tension extends beyond creativity and into the ethical application of AI art. As AI continues to progress rapidly, can it be considered an expression of human creativity, or does it undermine traditional notions of art? In a medium historically grounded in truth and documentation, the rise of synthetic imagery blurs the line between real and constructed. Since the deliberate subversion of Boris Eldagsen’s ‘The Electrician’,
provoking public discussion regarding the integration of AI initially in 2023, questions were raised surrounding the use of generative models. Generative models are trained on vast image sets scraped from the internet, often without the knowledge or permission of the original creators. This raises questions about intellectual property, cultural appropriation, and the invisibility of the artist behind the algorithm. Ultimately, ethics in AI-assisted photography aren’t about setting rigid rules—it’s about cultivating awareness—awareness of impact, ownership, and intention. As creators, we must ask not just if we can use AI, but should we? And if so, how do we do it responsibly, with clarity and care? As Lev Manovich puts it, AI can analyze and generate, but it must still learn to understand how humans perceive.
The future of AI hopes to guarantee significant advancements, paving the way for new aesthetics. As Brandon Bibbins (2024) alludes to in a blog post “AI-powered cameras could be used to create virtual reality or augmented reality experiences that were previously impossible to achieve”. Highlighted by the world’s first AI camera, the prototyped CMR-M1 AI camera, uses five different stable diffusion LoRas, allowing users within the camera to choose the visual universe in which their imagery is intended, enabling real-time experiments.
Another proclamation of the future success of AI within photographic culture comes from Levi Strauss & Co.’s experimental partnership with Lalaland, AI-generated models. Levi will use AI technology to supplement human models, generating a series of ‘hyper-realistic’ models, for every body type, age, size, aiming to create a more inclusive body positive shopping experience.
However, the announcement received mixed responses, resulting in Levi’s having to clarify the use of AI, affirming the partnership is focused on leveraging AI to enhance the consumer’s experience whilst maintaining a clear distinction from broader diversity.
To conclude, photography serves as an expression of human consciousness, capturing the complexities of emotions and thoughts, offering insight for artists to externalise their subjective experiences, and pushing the boundaries of consciousness. Introducing artificial intelligence (AI) in photographic culture challenges us as artists to confront unfamiliar concepts, embrace new perspectives, and question our artistic beliefs and values. As the distinctions between human understanding and machine creativity continue to blur, it becomes imperative to critically evaluate the transformative potential of AI while still preserving the integrity and the capacity for human artistic creation. Understanding that AI doesn’t progress in a straightforward narrative, only through informed and ethical approaches can AI successfully amplify human creativity. The application of AI embodies both opportunities and challenges in creating photographic imagery. Whilst currently there is not one singular answer to understand artificial intelligence’s role within photographic culture, artists and broader society must understand how integral it is to maintain an ongoing dialogue to navigate the multifaceted implications. Ensuring that the integration of AI enriches rather than diminishes the essence of photography, preserving the unique essence of human creativity. Ultimately, AI should amplify, not replace, an artist’s creativity, catalysing innovation whilst preserving artistic expressions of authenticity and intellectual depth.