Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm.
For: Liam Gould
AI art can be tacky and cheap but it can also be effective if used correctly. There's a reason why people are concerned about artists losing their jobs to AI-generated art; it works, and on a superficial level it's effective at conveying whatever prompt it's been given. In the hands of a small business owner who is seeking to make their business stand out but can't afford the expense of hiring an artist, it's a great option. In terms of avoiding a poor product there is of course a base level of due diligence required to make sure that the image generated is doing what you want it to. There’s always a risk that commissioned art isn't to your liking, but by using AI, you remove the financial hit that this situation would have otherwise brought about.
It's important to make the concession that the use of AI art in place of actual humans is mildly unethical and contributes to the decline of creative industries. However, small businesses are not the driving force behind this trend. We have already seen prominent companies like Coca Cola and Ikea use AI art in advertising and the harm created by companies doing this is going to be hugely outsized compared to the harms created by a small business. Sure, it's not ideal but when the entire industry is moving in a direction towards AI art small businesses can't do much about it. The role of moderating the use and proliferation of AI art shouldn't fall on small business owners who are struggling to get by as is.
Small businesses in New Zealand have limited resources and the tax breaks offered by our new National Government aren't doing much to change that outlook. When faced with the cost of a pricey piece of art or something that can accomplish close to the same purpose for the cost of nothing, it would be wrong to tell these businesses to pick up the slack for the failure of big business and governments to regulate AI.
Against: Hannah Mitchell
As we approach the halfway mark of an already significant decade, it’s time to reflect on one of the many famed things that was brought to mainstream markets: AI art. AI art has made it clear it’s here to stay, but its growing presence in advertising poses threats that are often overlooked for its inexpensive price and ability to be tailored in a swift manner.
As a small business, cutting costs is beneficial, but providing customers with misinformation is one of the biggest no-nos you can do. AI-generated art may increase interactions with your business at first, but the lack of truthful advertising misleads customers, thus reducing their chance of returning and promoting your business to others. Misinformation further extends into ethical issues when you consider AI's inability to filter out biassed data points. The majority of the internet's algorithms are unfortunately based on mediocre white men, resulting in often stereotypical, discriminatory, and/or inaccurate representations in its advertisements. Thus, no matter how smart AI currently is, it lacks the social contexts that most humans have and what small businesses ultimately should strive to be in their advertising: inclusive and accurate.
AI art poses wider legal implications, with copyright issues at the forefront. AI art does not have clear copyright protection or infringement, meaning much of the internet with artist's work is seen as the free market. Thus, art can be easily stolen and replicated. While AI art can also be stolen, copyright laws only currently apply to humans. Therefore, true ownership of the art is confusing, allowing small businesses to steal artwork ideas and not disclose their use of AI art, making advertisements untrustworthy.
Finally, AI art truly represents the demise of creativity, as it cannot replace the storytelling and emotional connection that humans can produce. While AI art can produce almost perfect pieces at first glance, when you take a deeper look, it's the human touch and imperfections that define art and true authentic advertising. If you, as a small business, are cutting corners on the presentation of your product or company, what else are you cutting corners on too? How do you ensure that consumers can trust that your product or service will be of high quality if your advertisement is low-effort and cheap?