Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a popular tool for creating art, from social media gimmicks to professional works. However, using AI to reconstruct existing works of art without the artists’ permission has caused controversy. This tracing method, known as Chimera tracing, raises questions about whether AI art is an infringement of copyright.
Art has always been inspired by other art, but copying an existing painting is not accepted in the art scene, even without AI. Tracing is viewed critically and is considered a moral no-go and disrespect to the original artist. While some AI image generators claim to make art accessible to everyone, it is worth remembering that art is a craft that can be learned with practice, and AI does not replace the skill of human artists.
The issue with AI-generated art is that it often relies on tracing methods that use existing works without permission. However, it is possible to train AI to comply with copyright by only using works for which it has explicit permission to create an image. A platform where artists voluntarily upload their works for AI use, with mutual agreement and a license fee, would provide a solution that benefits both artists and AI creators.
Without human artists, there would be no ability to generate AI art, and they should not be the victims of this technology. While the genie of AI art is out of the bottle, copyright does not need to be reinvented. Instead, we can find ways to make AI respect copyright and work with artists to create a fair and sustainable solution for all.
