Thank you so much. I don’t disagree, but another way to look at it (the glass half full way) is that the things that are uniquely human can’t be replaced by machines. So we’ve got that going for us which is nice.
That is true, Bill! I found it worrying that your client was being so swayed by the AI advice, but your experiments showed how ridiculous it is to take that to its conclusion. (As if we should all aspire to a The Joker smile!)
Similarly, I tend to read a lot of excellent memoir here (and gravitate to that in what I write). I don’t think AI can replicate that, either. So there is definitely hope for us humans!
Great story, and yet I think the AI evangelists are not going to be convinced no matter what we say or show them. The greatest danger of AI is that humans will become convinced that it is more 'intelligent' then they are and will start conforming their own human intelligence to the pretended 'judgement' of AI. AI has some great potential applications, but writing and making pictures aren't among them. In this regard AI represents a descent into mediocrity.
The only thing worse than AI critiques of photography is AI generated photography. Fortunately, the technology has a long way to go before it replaces us creatives...
This situation is somewhat funny, albeit useless, in the same way a few years ago, AI was replaced by 'mom' or 'my boyfriend' thinks this is the best photo. I am very surprised people DO find the slightest shred of competence and visual knowledge in a machine that produces random results. Well, this is the new world. That said, I am all for Duchamp's assertion that taste doesn't exist - let's not forget he was part of the group who defied the art establishment (the Salonards) a few years after the inauguration of the Salon des Refusés. The Non Art of Cabaret Voltaire (Duchamp y compris) did nothing but stand against the dusty, old criteria that had turned visible art into a shitload of mannerism and redundancy. Maybe we are witnessing the same thing, with different tools at hand. By the way, which is the name of the ranking app?
Thanks for reading! And for your thoughtful comment. I like the idea of challenging "mannerism and redundancy." I'd rather not broadcast the app but if you message me I'll tell you everything.
Super interesting. AI is simply garbage in/garbage out. It collects data and regurgitates it. We wouldn't need you as a photographer, simply sit at your computer, turn on the camera and follow the AIs instructions till you get it right. Nah, not really....!
This is not going away. I am curious about how the lawsuits are going to go against the AI platforms. They have mined the internet of copyright protected material to come up with their 'smarts'. That is illegal. The newspapers are having a go. We will see what happens. But as you say taste is about experience and knowing your sitter, in the case of a portrait in particular, a certain likeness is a good thing to have. So far, AI has failed miserably on this front. And Duchamp is wrong, but he was more of a provocateur. Less of an artist himself. Decent chess player, or so I am told.
Your career is safe, as long as your lazy and insecure clients don't roll over and play possum, just because there is a new bear in town.
1. i think your clients have their own taste which might be based on your taste and interpretation of the task.
2. once your client have seen the app recommendations, cannot take them out of his mind, it is how we are build as humans. (james mcavoy said to charlize theron in atomic blode "once it's f**ked it cannot be unf**ked")
3. i think you should show your client this essay especially the results of an app looking at the masters photographers
I think this is a great point. In an ideal world, our clients see our work and hire us because our taste aligns with their own. (This is true across industries.) But every photographer I know has stories of being hired, producing work precisely in line with everything in their portfolio, and the client being disappointed. I don't know if lay people always factor in their own taste enough. And you're surely right about the client being convinced that the app's selection is actually the best. Regarding item three... Not a chance! I wouldn't want him to think I'm poking fun at him. I'm not, really. I think he's just the first I've encountered in what I assume will be something we'll see more and more. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I’m not so sure we’ll see this more and more. I feel like most regular old humans would recognize, even instinctively, that having a bot select your photo is silly. I think your client is a tech head, and some people are just like that. But not most people.
Brilliant piece, thank you. I am laughing at this. Gah – the AI verdict of those world famous portraits! But seriously, the implications are grim.
Thank you so much. I don’t disagree, but another way to look at it (the glass half full way) is that the things that are uniquely human can’t be replaced by machines. So we’ve got that going for us which is nice.
That is true, Bill! I found it worrying that your client was being so swayed by the AI advice, but your experiments showed how ridiculous it is to take that to its conclusion. (As if we should all aspire to a The Joker smile!)
Similarly, I tend to read a lot of excellent memoir here (and gravitate to that in what I write). I don’t think AI can replicate that, either. So there is definitely hope for us humans!
Great story, and yet I think the AI evangelists are not going to be convinced no matter what we say or show them. The greatest danger of AI is that humans will become convinced that it is more 'intelligent' then they are and will start conforming their own human intelligence to the pretended 'judgement' of AI. AI has some great potential applications, but writing and making pictures aren't among them. In this regard AI represents a descent into mediocrity.
I too tried an AI experiment a while back asking it to produce written works in the style of several well known photographers. The results were less than impressive: https://open.substack.com/pub/ollithomson1/p/they-said-what?
This post: 10/10. No notes.
And “selected by a box full of wires” gave me big LOLZ the way truth does in the best comedy.
Aw shucks. Thank you!
The only thing worse than AI critiques of photography is AI generated photography. Fortunately, the technology has a long way to go before it replaces us creatives...
Hilarious and frightening all at once. We’re doomed...
It's funny, "We're doomed" has been the comment I've typed most in the last year.
Really enjoyed this, your experiments are hilarious. Was this through ChatGTP?
Thank you! Not ChatGPT. Though I don't know if that's at all involved on the back end. (Doubtful.)
This situation is somewhat funny, albeit useless, in the same way a few years ago, AI was replaced by 'mom' or 'my boyfriend' thinks this is the best photo. I am very surprised people DO find the slightest shred of competence and visual knowledge in a machine that produces random results. Well, this is the new world. That said, I am all for Duchamp's assertion that taste doesn't exist - let's not forget he was part of the group who defied the art establishment (the Salonards) a few years after the inauguration of the Salon des Refusés. The Non Art of Cabaret Voltaire (Duchamp y compris) did nothing but stand against the dusty, old criteria that had turned visible art into a shitload of mannerism and redundancy. Maybe we are witnessing the same thing, with different tools at hand. By the way, which is the name of the ranking app?
Thanks for reading! And for your thoughtful comment. I like the idea of challenging "mannerism and redundancy." I'd rather not broadcast the app but if you message me I'll tell you everything.
Super interesting. AI is simply garbage in/garbage out. It collects data and regurgitates it. We wouldn't need you as a photographer, simply sit at your computer, turn on the camera and follow the AIs instructions till you get it right. Nah, not really....!
This is not going away. I am curious about how the lawsuits are going to go against the AI platforms. They have mined the internet of copyright protected material to come up with their 'smarts'. That is illegal. The newspapers are having a go. We will see what happens. But as you say taste is about experience and knowing your sitter, in the case of a portrait in particular, a certain likeness is a good thing to have. So far, AI has failed miserably on this front. And Duchamp is wrong, but he was more of a provocateur. Less of an artist himself. Decent chess player, or so I am told.
Your career is safe, as long as your lazy and insecure clients don't roll over and play possum, just because there is a new bear in town.
"Provacateur" sounds right up my alley. Thanks for reading.
few things to mention:
1. i think your clients have their own taste which might be based on your taste and interpretation of the task.
2. once your client have seen the app recommendations, cannot take them out of his mind, it is how we are build as humans. (james mcavoy said to charlize theron in atomic blode "once it's f**ked it cannot be unf**ked")
3. i think you should show your client this essay especially the results of an app looking at the masters photographers
I think this is a great point. In an ideal world, our clients see our work and hire us because our taste aligns with their own. (This is true across industries.) But every photographer I know has stories of being hired, producing work precisely in line with everything in their portfolio, and the client being disappointed. I don't know if lay people always factor in their own taste enough. And you're surely right about the client being convinced that the app's selection is actually the best. Regarding item three... Not a chance! I wouldn't want him to think I'm poking fun at him. I'm not, really. I think he's just the first I've encountered in what I assume will be something we'll see more and more. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I’m not so sure we’ll see this more and more. I feel like most regular old humans would recognize, even instinctively, that having a bot select your photo is silly. I think your client is a tech head, and some people are just like that. But not most people.