Are Artists "Victims" to AI Artists (Persecutors)?
No. You create your own reality and no one can impede on it
I have created videos on YouTube and you know what? People have been using computer-generated voiceovers to create videos from articles for years. They’ve automated that process. They do this in order to make money from their channels. Am I concerned that someone else out there will start to make the same sorts of videos I do via artificial intelligence (AI) and “take my job” (and subscribers) in that sense? No.
Of course, I am rolling with the times and doing plenty of artificial intelligence artwork myself. I’ve been able to use Stable Diffusion on my local computer. So you might say I’m not a good example because I actually have been using AI. You might even consider me part of the problem.
You might say we have to think of the people out there who are “victims” of this new technology & AI Artists (“persecutors”) that will steal their jobs because they cannot learn how to use it themselves or the AI artists will increase supply and demand will go down.
First, the only reason I am able to use Stable Diffusion on my computer is because there are plenty of free tutorials on YouTube of how to do it. You can pay for a subscription with other companies to make AI art yourself. But, sure there are people out there who cannot follow along with the technology and plenty who actually really don’t want to move into the AI field. So, let’s talk about them.
Will the Supply of Great Art Be Increased?
Sure, it will be increased, but not as much as people predict. For one thing, I have to go through a lot of crappy images before picking the right one to use. I also retouch things in Photoshop before using them. That still requires some skills that some people don’t have.
Also, people need to know the correct keywords to use in order to get really great art from an AI generator. There is some research involved there. That’s an art in itself. Getting great AI art will require people to learn the process and put effort and work into its creation.
Also, most AI art images are tiny. You cannot use most AI art images on a sign or banner or even your desktop wallpaper without having to enlarge it and that makes it pixelated. Because they come out so small, I use Gigpixel AI to enlarge the photos. Of course that was an added expense. Not everyone has that capability or even knows it exists and it has limitations too.
Many times people see the end product and don’t realize how much time and effort was put into creating something. They think it’s a lot easier than it is. But, with all that said, I agree that the supply will be increased and that means demand will go down.
So What If Demand Goes Down?
Why would you care if demand goes down? You create your own reality with your thoughts. I mentioned in my recent article about how to get a better job that your thoughts can be self-fulfilling prophecies.
When you feel differently, you act differently. If you feel worried or concerned that you won’t be able to get any work, then you will increasingly look needy to everyone else, which turns people off. I’ve said before that your vibe attracts your tribe and your vibe also repels those not of your tribe. When you feel like you’re lacking then you attract lack and repel abundance.
Some great examples of this are woke teachers and movie remakes. They fear that people aren’t going to have the same beliefs as they do and try to indoctrinate people through their media or teachings. All of those people (whom they fear will not have the same beliefs as they do) are being pushed away by the heavy-handed indoctrination that comes out of their neediness.
You will see that the people who have large fears of losing jobs to AI will end up with that result in a self-fulfilling prophecy. And, you’ll see that the people who have no fear will still succeed as they always do. Furthermore, if demand goes down, their “competition” starts getting fearful, and they still feel confident, they may get more work.
Internal Locus of Control
You can’t change what is happening out in the world. You can’t stop the AI art from coming out. But you can focus on what you can do to feel powerful.
To any artist who does not want to use AI, I would say focus on yourself and not what is going on in the outside world so much concerning this. You can still be successful at what you love to do if you don’t take your “eye off the ball” so to speak. You want to find the feelings of inspiration, excitement, and freedom. Do what you’re inspired to do regardless of what other people are doing.
You could also learn how to use AI art if you wanted to. But I don’t think you need to in order to be successful. People still buy real paintings and artwork all the time. If there’s demand out there for that, then keep producing the supply. Just don’t fall into the pattern of feeling like a “victim” who has no control over what some “persecutor” is doing. You’ll feel powerless that way. And you aren’t powerless. You are powerful.
Your power lies in what you can do and you can shift your mindset from pessimism and feeling like a victim to optimism and feeling like a victor. It’s what you came for.
You Can Have What You Want
You can have whatever you want in this world. But, as I’ve said, you cannot always have what you’re miswanting. But, who cares, you don’t want that stuff anyway. You think you want experiences, money, and things, and in reality, what you really want is the feeling that you think those will give you.
Find ways to be inspired and appreciate the inspiration. Milk those thoughts and feelings. Don’t let negative worries like, “But an AI can generate that in a couple of seconds,” or “That AI artist just got the gig I was going for so what’s the use in trying again?” If you lost a gig, I am telling you that you didn’t truly “want” it in the first place. It was something you were miswanting. There is another gig out there better suited to you that you are now free for.
Find The Feelings
So long as you find the feelings of inspiration, freedom, and excitement you will attract those into your life more often because you will be more open and less needy. You may not believe me now, but if you take the action (mental work) of finding those emotions, you will see the results.
What else are you going to do anyway? Wallow in self-pity playing “victim?” That’s not going to feel very good. Why not give this a try instead?
I would suggest meditation, relaxation, and play because those are the times inspiration starts to come to you. Do whatever it is that you do when you receive positive, exciting inspiration. But don’t do it for inspiration, do it to relax. In the fear state (fight/flight/freeze/fawn), you can’t think well. So you want to get out of the fear state and into a more relaxed state.
Appreciate any time you get inspiration. Appreciate the fun you have in creating. Appreciate the excitement of every new job or gig, and stop worrying so much about what other people are doing. Milk those great feelings and thoughts when they come up.
You are in charge of your mind. So take control where you can and stop worrying about trying to control what you can’t.
