The Work of Art in an Age of Mechanical Generation

TL;DR

This paper explores the nature of creativity in art, examining AI's ability to detect forgeries and how technological advances may reshape the relationship between art, artists, and the market.

Contribution

It offers a multidisciplinary analysis of AI's role in art authenticity and discusses potential shifts in artistic and market dynamics due to technological progress.

Findings

AI can effectively detect art forgeries.

Authenticity remains central to art valuation.

Technological advances may alter art-market relationships.

Abstract

Can we define what it means to be "creative," and if so, can our definition drive artificial intelligence (AI) systems to feats of creativity indistinguishable from human efforts? This mixed question is considered from technological and social perspectives. Beginning with an exploration of the value we attach to authenticity in works of art, the article considers the ability of AI to detect forgeries of renowned paintings and, in so doing, somehow reveal the quiddity of a work of art. We conclude by considering whether evolving technical capability can revise traditional relationships among art, artist, and the market.