Artists Champion Human Touch Amidst AI Art Rise

It's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between art created by humans and pieces generated by artificial intelligence (AI). This raises a fundamental question for emerging artists: should they continue creating in the age of AI?

In March, controversy erupted when a new version of ChatGPT’s image generator produced visuals mimicking the distinct style of Studio Ghibli, celebrated for its hand-drawn animations and imaginative worlds.

This incident triggered a wave of social media posts featuring AI-generated images replicating the iconic Japanese studio's style, fueling concerns about creative integrity and artistic ownership.

Critics argued that the tool exploited the legacy of Studio Ghibli and its co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki.

Miyazaki, 84, has consistently opposed AI in animation, famously calling it "an insult to life itself" after viewing an AI animation demo in 2016.

The viral spread of ChatGPT's Ghibli-style AI images has brought copyright questions to the forefront.

For many creators, the advancement of AI brings an existential dread similar to sci-fi narratives where machines surpass human control, according to Hong Kong comic artist Man Tsang.

"It makes us feel like we’re not important any more – disposable, even," he expressed. "It’s natural [for artists] to feel insulted. Not just as artists, but as humans. And that insult feels real.”

However, Tsang views this fear as part of a recurring historical pattern.

“During the agricultural and industrial revolutions, people went through something similar. Farmers who could predict rain became irrelevant. In the UK, factory workers rioted and smashed machines – but they lost,” he explained.

“AI might strip a lot from us, but over 10, 20, even 100 years of struggle, we might eventually reach a legal balance. In the short term, though, pain is inevitable.”

Facing the potential threat from AI, artists like Tsang advocate for creators to delve deeper into the elements that make their work uniquely human.

Value of Creative Instinct

Tsang, currently collaborating with Disney on a comic adaptation of Star Wars: Thrawn, is among the few Hong Kong artists with global recognition.

He feels fortunate that AI's widespread adoption occurred after he established his reputation.

But he expresses concern for recent graduates.

“Take students just out of ... [a] design programme – they’ve trained for years but haven’t had time to get noticed. And now, AI is already doing the jobs they were aiming for,” Tsang noted.

“Ads that used to pay a few thousand dollars to beginners now turn to AI-generated content instead. That’s devastating.”

He believes resilience is only part of the equation; creativity is vital for aspiring artists navigating this new landscape.

“Having a unique style is crucial. People remember me for sketching travel scenes in a notebook. That stuck with them,” he shared.

“Creativity isn’t about writing a movie. It’s about making life a little more bearable in hard times. That’s instinct.”

Tsang predicts that traditional methods might gain renewed appreciation over time.

“Hand-drawn work might not make you rich – but if you don’t do it, it has no value at all,” he asserted. “That’s why I tell kids: don’t just use an Apple Pencil. Use real paper and pens. If the computer breaks, you can still draw. That’s yours.”

He added: “Maybe people will start noticing those who shoot on film again, or write scripts on tape recorders. Whatever it is, the goal is to be remembered.”

Similar concerns about AI's impact on creative professions have been voiced elsewhere, such as when British musicians protested government AI plans.

The Soul of Art Lies in Lived Experiences

Another Hong Kong artist, Tommy, known professionally as Tommychief Oil, suggests that the city's results-oriented culture fuels the reliance on AI, amplifying worries about human artists' relevance.

“Today’s artists need to think about what elements they can incorporate to set themselves apart from AI,” stated Tommy.

He believes this distinction comes from storytelling grounded in personal experience.

“When I look at a piece of art, I’m not just looking at the result; I’m thinking about the artist’s journey and how their experiences led to that work,” he explained.

“I think truly complex works are something AI hasn’t quite mastered – at least for now.”

Cultural context, he emphasized, is also crucial.

“Hong Kong artists should lean into our own culture. If we don’t even understand our roots ... then we’ve lost our unique voice,” he said. “Storytelling, research and history matter because new audiences are looking for something they can’t find anywhere else.”

AI as an Asset

For Kane Dalangin Harold, a graphic design student in Hong Kong, the outlook remains positive.

The 32-year-old, pursuing graphic design after a career in charity work, is optimistic about AI serving as more of an asset than a threat.

“As a graphic designer, AI is a useful tool – especially for research and organising content,” he said. “It can help generate ideas when resources aren’t available, like specific photography styles or mock-ups that require human subjects.”

Dalangin views AI as a means to enhance efficiency.

“It ... allows me to focus more on the design aspect. We can generate a range of visual possibilities based on ideas, then refine them,” the student explained, echoing discussions about how AI tools like ChatGPT are changing education and learning.

He argues that the refinement process is where humans maintain an edge, and designers must learn to use AI tools effectively.

“We know how to make decisions that reflect the message we’re trying to convey. AI still needs ... instructions to produce something of equal quality,” he said.

“That ability to interpret and communicate ideas visually – that’s our skill.”

Dalangin noted the real concern would arise if AI develops the capacity for independent creative decision-making.

For the time being, even with companies utilizing AI for basic design work, he believes graphic designers remain indispensable.

“Sometimes, businesses get what they think they want from AI, but the message still doesn’t come across,” he concluded. “That’s when a designer can step in and solve the problem in ways AI can’t.”