AI has been the talk of the art world for a minute now. There are many critics, stark defenders and rule makers on how and when it is OK to use it, if at all.
There's no doubt that AI is here, and millions of people are now using it to get ahead whether we like it or not. You can either:
choose to let it grind your gears and be the grumpy person who says, "back in my day...!"
not use it and just accept it - that this is the current real-life situation and that people will use and implement it even if you don't.
OR you can see how you can benefit from it and not get left behind in digital dust.
I personally went through all of these and ultimately decided that I wanted to educate myself and see how it could fit into my practice. Here's what I've got so far:
Resources
Recently, I wanted to make an audio clip for a video I was creating. I asked AI to give me a list of websites that offer royalty free, commercially available music and SFX clips that I could use. After I collected what I wanted, I then asked it for a list of free platforms I could use online to mix my audio without downloading the software. In the end, I made my audio and in a fraction of the time it would have taken me to find all those resources.
On a completely different line, I also ask it to give me a healthy shopping list for the week with food available at Lidl in Malta along with a meal plan. The gift of time is what I'm talking about. Mundane tasks can be cut down to a fraction of the time. Some artists tell me they use it for finding titles to artwork, artists statements, contracts, step-by-step instructions on how to use a new piece of equipment.... I'm using it now to practice for an arts & culture interview I have this week with Inkontru.app by generating questions that could pop up. Get creative with this, and spend more time doing what you should be doing- art.
"The gift of time is what I'm talking about. Mundane tasks can be cut down to a fraction of the time. "
Systems
Running an art practice often involves a lot of tasks that don't necessarily involve creating art, and AI can automate many of them.
Project Management: You can ask ChatGPT to help you create timelines for projects, breaking down tasks into manageable steps. For instance, you might say, “Help me plan out the next two months for my upcoming gallery show,” and it can help organize your workflow. Very helpful, especially since I'm starting to feel the time crunch for my exhibition in December.
Task Lists: If you're overwhelmed with multiple ongoing projects, AI can help you prioritize tasks. Simply input your to-do list and ask, “Which tasks should I focus on first?” to get a sense of what needs immediate attention. I've also asked it to give me a posting protocol with times to post an ideas for content for each month on my social media channels - a real game-changer since I'm not a social media guru.
Process Documentation: If you're documenting your creative process, you can ask for guidance on how to structure your reflections. For example, “How should I structure a reflective journal entry about a completed project?” will provide suggestions for organizing your thoughts and insights effectively.
Conclusion: AI as a Creative Partner, Not a Replacement
While ChatGPT is not creating the art itself, it can become an integral part of your creative process, supporting you from brainstorming through execution. By using it as a partner, research assistant, writing editor, and studio manager, you can focus more on the hands-on aspects of your practice, allowing it to handle the repetitive or time-consuming tasks.
It's not a replacement for creativity, but a tool to streamline your workflow.
Have you used ChatGPT in your art practice? How did it help you?
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