Why Most People Dislike AI Art: Expert Analysis

When ChatGPT launched in 2022, tech enthusiasts were extremely vocal about how it was going to change the world and how AI was going to change every industry.

However, how much do we want to see artificial intelligence influence our fashion, our music, and our movies? According to one study — not much at all.

Worklife Ventures, a fund backed by founders of Cameo, Spotify, Twitch, and Zoom, found that most people aren’t interested in AI-generated content.

What makes this study interesting is that it shows cracks in the surface of the adoption of generative AI. Just because an AI agent “can” replace a human in a given scenario doesn’t mean that it should.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. The Push Back Against AI-Generated Art
3. AI's Impact on Human Artists
4. The Limits of Generative AI Adoption
5. Will AI Art Become More Popular Over Time?
6. The Bottom Line
7. FAQs
8. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. The Push Back Against AI-Generated Art
3. AI's Impact on Human Artists
Show Full Guide
4. The Limits of Generative AI Adoption
5. Will AI Art Become More Popular Over Time?
6. The Bottom Line
7. FAQs
8. References

The Push Back Against AI-Generated Art

If you were to look at the comments of technology enthusiasts and Silicon Valley, you’d think that the next revolution is AI art. However, this study suggests that many people are not too thrilled about engaging with works created by automated agents and large language models (LLMs).

Key findings from the survey of 600 Americans suggested that 73% of the population would be less likely to buy from a fashion brand using AI to design clothes, while 73% prefer human-generated music to AI-generated music.

“When it comes to AI-generated art, the reluctance from consumers often stems from the perception that art is not just a product, but a deeply personal expression of human experience,” Scott Dylan, founder of NexaTech Ventures, told Techopedia.

“People tend to value the intention, emotion, and cultural context behind human-created works, seeing them as reflections of their personal lives and identities. AI art, while technically impressive, often lacks that emotional depth and connection to a lived human narrative.”

If we take the example of music outlined in the study, would major hits like Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody or The Eagles’ Hotel California have generated the interest and debate that they have if they weren’t made by humans? If they didn’t come from the experiences of human artists? It’s unlikely.

Artwork is as much about exploring a human perspective as it is the end product — whether that’s an image, a novel, a piece of music, or a feature-length film.

AI’s Impact on Human Artists

Another factor that could drive consumers away from AI-generated art is the negative impact it’s had on creative industries where human artists and creatives are being displaced by AI.

A survey produced by The Society of Authors earlier this year found that 26% of illustrators report they have lost work due to generative AI. As creatives lose jobs to AI, fewer humans will take the risk of trying to make a living out of their creative pursuits.

Dylan notes that while AI can act as a tool on one hand, “on the other, it introduces concerns about intellectual property, job displacement, and the devaluation of skills that take years to master.

“Many creatives are grasping with how to use AI without feeling like they’re being replaced or that the intrinsic value of their craft is being undermined.”

In any case, it is likely that more and more people will take a dim view of AI replacing human artists whose work they admire. After all, if there are fewer human artists out there, then there’s going to be less content to enjoy.

There’s also the fact that many leading AI vendors like OpenAI and Midjourney have been called out in lawsuits for allegedly using copyrighted works without permission to train their LLMs.

This creates a narrative where AI vendors are thought to be stealing intellectual property from human artists and using it to create automated art.

Even when it is not a creative endeavor under the spotlight, AI does not win hearts and minds, even when it does offer convenience. In the Worklife Ventures study, 75% of people would prefer a human driver to a copilot in a taxi, and 70% of people would rather talk to a human than an automated agent to rebook a flight.

The Limits of Generative AI Adoption

One of generative AI’s core selling points is using AI to augment human creativity. But if consumers don’t like the results of AI-generated content and artwork, then there will be much less incentive to use these tools in the future.

For example, if people prefer human-written content, a tool like ChatGPT loses its value in content creation. The same applies to solutions that create artwork or music.

If people actively seek to avoid AI-generated art then creatives and enterprise professionals might just spend less time engaging with these tools, which isn’t good for the growth of the industry long term.

Will AI Art Become More Popular Over Time?

Of course, there is another factor to consider: the potential for AI art to become more popular over time.

We’ve already seen instances of AI art taking off. One of the most notable instances was when an AI-generated song imitating the vocals of Drake and the Weeknd generated over 15 million views on TikTok, plus 600,000 Spotify streams and 275,000 YouTube views.

While this is just one example, it does show how AI-generated music can generate interest, particularly if it’s of high quality — if we set aside the ethical concerns of using the vocal likeness of well-known artists.

Philip Gj?rup, co-founder at Nord Comms, suggested a more positive sentiment:

“As society becomes more accustomed to AI-generated art, we may start to appreciate its unique qualities. AI art democratizes creativity, allowing anyone to express themselves artistically, regardless of their background or skill level. While some may view this as a threat to traditional artistry, I see it as an opportunity for collaboration.

 

“Artists can leverage AI tools to enhance their work, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation. Ultimately, AI has the potential to inspire rather than compete, encouraging a new wave of creative expression.”

The Bottom Line

Generative AI has helped enable creativity in some instances, but many people just don’t want to give it the time of day. In their current form, LLMs lack the depth or reasoning necessary to produce art that keeps people coming back for more.

People will always have their own feelings on the subject: Would you buy a painting knowing it was AI-generated? Would you avoid it, or would you be indifferent and be happy to buy the work based on its merits?

The lack of human influence may likely always be a limiting factor.

FAQs