Opinion: TAIngability in the Era of Algorithmic Influence

We frequently find ourselves swamped by news and updates about the latest, and most 'urgent and needed,' advancements in AI. For creatives, feeling overwhelmed has become yet another daily task. From algorithmic influence to the infinite, non-stop reiterations of AI-generated art, every social platform currently feels like a never-ending loop.

Some fatigue in the AI art generation space is gradually showing from tools like Midjourney and even DALL-E in its latest iteration (haven't started with Adobe Firefly, yet). Despite their ability to produce visually stunning creations, it often feels we're beginning to be stuck in a loop, endlessly reproducing variations of somewhat similar themes and patterns (in some cases, not all of them!).

The Midjourney 'describe' feature, while innovative, has become a crutch. Just spend 5-10 minutes of your day scrolling through social media, and you'll see it: an almost excessive amount of ‘how-to’ guides from self-appointed ‘AI gurus’ replicating and using blatantly many of them to fill their guides.

Platforms like IG, with their algorithmic influence, make users to stay on a single creative lane, encouraging content that feeds the algorithm rather than exploring alternatives. This confinement not only stifles creativity but also contributes to phenomena like 'superhero fatigue.' With entertainment giants like Marvel, DC, and Star Wars pushing more and more similar content, the algorithm continues to be fed, on a repetitive cycle.

In the midst of all this, after posting more actively on IG, I met Hero Kominato, a fellow creative from Tokyo, who brought his own perspective. Hero, being immersed in a city synonymous with technological advancements, also delves into AI Art and AI filmmaking. He began organizing casual meetings in Tokyo to explore AI filmmaking, network with other creators, and engage in discussions, sharing ideas, and tips and tricks about this medium. His initiative wasn’t about tangible art but was about making tangible connections in the real world, which was incredibly inspiring.

(About AI filmmaking: go now, and check aifilms.ai feed on IG to witness how the medium is being adopted at an incredible pace!).

Hero inspired an idea, based on his concept. I decided to make some of my creations tangible, printing series of Midjourney gens to leave them as a gift around art stores within my neighborhood, as a gift to people while networking, while also promoting my IG: juanteppa.media. But this is intended to be more than self-promotion. Hopefully, and progressively, it could become a step out of my digital comfort zone, a way to connect with like-minded individuals interested in art, AI art, AI filmmaking, and the cultural scene in Copenhagen (or, being more ambitious, all of Denmark). Perhaps it might turn digital connections into real interactions, growing the community, forging bonds, maybe even kickstarting new projects locally, and continuing some on hiatus alongside Roberto Molina Burguera .

The journey toward making AI a meaningful part of our daily lives is multifaceted, involving our collective efforts to pave the way toward a future where AI is another collaborative partner.

Letting our ‘creative egos’ aside, we should stop fearing it, learn from it, have fun and embrace it.