In 2022, Molly Crabapple noticed a concerning trend: her unique illustrations of the Aleppo skyline and protest portraits were being replicated across the internet. It became evident that artificial intelligence (AI) companies were utilizing her work, along with countless other images online, to train models that convert text into images. Programs like DALL-E, DreamStudio, and Stable Diffusion were generating inferior copies of her sketches when prompted with her name.
“It’s not about creating high-quality art; it’s about producing something good enough to serve the purpose and eliminate the need for human creators,” Crabapple expressed to Hyperallergic.
Today, AI has become deeply ingrained in the online landscape. It answers search queries with content from other sites, generates essays for students, and even acts as virtual therapists. However, critics argue that AI also infringes on copyrighted material, diminishing artists’ income and stifling our creativity by removing the necessity for original thought.
Tech moguls in Silicon Valley predict that AI will soon dominate every aspect of our lives, potentially leading to the loss of half of all entry-level white-collar jobs and increasing unemployment rates to 10-20% in the next five years. Despite these predictions, some artists remain optimistic about halting the progression of AI technology.
During a recent event in the Lower East Side, Crabapple, alongside tech editor Edward Ongweso Jr and the Democratic Socialists of America Tech Action Working Group, hosted a workshop titled “Artists Against the Slop Beast: How AI is destroying creative work and how to fight back!” Their main message highlighted the detrimental impact of AI on creative endeavors, including mass surveillance of users and the erosion of spiritually fulfilling labor.
As an artist, Crabapple has witnessed firsthand the adverse effects of AI on the creative industry. Many illustrators struggle to find work as companies opt for AI-generated images to cut costs. In response, she penned an open letter in 2023 urging publishers and editors to reject the use of generative AI programs, garnering over 4,000 signatures.
Crabapple emphasized the dehumanizing nature of AI technology, fueled by a disdain for human effort and creativity. Companies continue to embrace AI for various tasks, leading to layoffs and a detachment from genuine human expression. To combat this trend, Crabapple and Ongweso advocate for organizations to implement policies banning AI technology in tasks such as content creation, image generation, and marketing campaigns.
Additionally, they stress the power of public shaming as a tool to deter companies from relying on AI-generated content. By calling out organizations that use such technology, individuals can influence them to reconsider their approach and prioritize authentic human creativity.
Ultimately, the fight against the unchecked proliferation of AI technology rests on the collective efforts of individuals, organizations, and artists who value the integrity of human expression over the convenience of automated solutions.
