“How Artists Can Combat the AI-Driven Degradation of Quality”

In 2022, artist Molly Crabapple noticed that AI-generated images closely resembling her distinct illustrations began appearing online. These images were created using models trained on billions of images, including her work, to generate images from text. Programs like DALL-E, DreamStudio, and Stable Diffusion produced flawed replicas of her art when prompted with her name.

This incident highlights a growing concern among artists about AI’s impact on creative industries. Critics argue that AI technologies not only infringe on copyrights but also threaten livelihoods by producing content that replaces human creativity. AI’s encroachment into various tasks—ranging from composing essays to creating art—raises concerns over intellectual property and the devaluation of creative labor.

Technology leaders predict an increased integration of AI into daily life, potentially eradicating millions of jobs. However, some artists, including Crabapple, are actively resisting this trend. Through discussions and workshops, they emphasize the societal harm caused by AI—such as mass surveillance and the erosion of meaningful work.

Crabapple advocates for collective action to discourage the use of AI, urging organizations and individuals to reject AI-generated content. She also encourages public criticism of companies that utilize AI, advocating that social media ridicule can deter firms from AI adoption.

Despite ongoing challenges, Crabapple’s initiative is part of a broader movement to uphold the value of human creativity against the rising tide of machine-generated content. This dialogue is essential in shaping ethical standards and regulatory policies around AI technologies, ensuring the protection of artists’ rights and the integrity of creative industries.