Science Fiction Author Questions AI’s Artistic Capabilities

Generative artificial intelligence will never be able to create a true work of art, according to renowned science fiction writer Ted Chiang in his essay.

He argues that the potential of large language models remains “largely theoretical.” So far, generative AI has been most successful in “lowering our expectations, both of what we read and of ourselves when we write for others.”

Even if the technology improves, the output of neural networks will never become art, Chiang notes, acknowledging the difficulty in precisely defining the concept.

“Art is something that arises from a multitude of deliberate choices,” the expert remarked.

These decisions may not result in a good novel, painting, or film, but they still involve a process of engagement and communication between the author and their audience, Chiang added.

“We are all products of what came before us, but it is we who bring meaning to the world by living our lives in interaction with others,” the writer concluded.

He stated that an autocomplete algorithm will never achieve this, although some claim otherwise.

Previously, an AI-generated image won the Creative category at the Sony World Photography Awards 2023.

In January 2023, three artists filed a class action lawsuit against the developers of image generators over potential copyright law violations.