With artificial intelligence (AI) currently a hot topic in creative circles, it’s easy to wonder if the threat to photography is real. If this is something that alarms or fascinates you (or both), we’re sure you’d also like to know what your fellow photographers think.
In his channel The Art of Photography, Ted Forbes usually talked about AI, but only in the context of image editing. This time, he shared his insights on computer-generated imaging itself, and if there’s a legitimate threat to the craft. He asks, “Will this kill photography as we know it?”
Despite the fact that imaging AI already has some impressive capabilities (like copying photographers to some degree) today, Forbes also noted what it cannot do. The most important, perhaps, is the fact that AI is not creative – it cannot churn out anything original. You need to feed or teach them something before they can churn out anything.
Likewise, in certain fields like fine art photography and commercial photography, originality is valued and often required. Style and visual language make creatives like photographers stand out from everyone else. That’s the advantage of humans over computers.
So, do you agree with Ted Forbes’ fearless forecast on the impact of imaging AI to the future of photography? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or in our group discussions if you’re already part of the Photofocus Community!
It is not AI which is of concern, but the authentication and display of origin. We have essentially four origination sources. Analogue photography, which has, once scanned, no origination info unless the photographer adds it. Digital, which has data to varying degree. Digitally manipulated which may have all its origination data stripped and AI. What reliable system is there? How is the financial remuneration rated/ valued. Bot by the ‘buyer’ and the viewer, of conventionally created photographs and that of AI, once it can be identified…These are the issues of real concern. How much is a human hour of work… Read more »
Interesting he/you say it (AI) is not creative, it cannot churn out anything original. True. But Generative AI is a “TOOL”, just like your camera is a tool. Your camera cannot “churn out anything creative” without you operating it. Generative AI is exactly the same. I’m a photographer of many decades and am now fully embracing this technology, it allows me to take me photography to yet another level.