Artificial Intelligence

Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence have prompted a variety of responses, ranging from excitement and enthusiasm, to anxiety and apprehension. The ethical implications of these advances have not yet proven innocuous, as misinformation, creative and intellectual property theft, and other challenges run rampant in online spaces. Some of the largest ethical concerns regarding the use of AI incude:

  • Deepfake Technology and Misinformation
  • Algorithmic Bias and Discrimination
  • Threats to Privacy and Security
  • Psychological and Relational Harms & Isolation
  • Academic Integrity and Intellectual Property

While these concerns are indeed imminent, AI is also being used in significant ways in the sphere of creativity to both manufacture and modify images. Programs such as Adobe Firefly, Photoshop, and Express have implemented AI tools to offer users the ability to generate text-to-image via prompts. Below is an example of an image modified with Photoshop's generative fill feature.

Abigail standing in front of fall foliage.
Abigail standing in a passage way on an AI generated spacecraft interior.
Fig. 1 and 2: Images before and after utilizing Photoshop's Generative AI tools.

While these tools offer users the ability to create detailed and unique art by editing images or creating new designs altogether, there are growing concerns about Deepfake technology and other visual applications of AI for potentially divisive purposes as well as for theft of creative and intellectual property and style. Some creatives feel that AI tools used for creative work are stripping the human aspects of creative exploration.