What AI Will Do to Art (www.theatlantic.com)

Artists Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst are merging the worlds of traditional art and artificial intelligence (AI) as they prepare for an upcoming installation at the Venice Biennale. Initially, they faced an obstacle when their idea of creating heavy 3-D-printed sculptures proved impractical for the historical venue, prompting them to pivot to a concept featuring an “upside-down parliament” filled with AI voices conversing in a musical language. This shift not only showcases their creative adaptability but also embodies their ongoing exploration of how AI can reshape public life and artistic expression. Their work is significant for the AI/ML community as it navigates the complex intersection of technology and creativity. Rather than viewing AI as a destructive force in the arts—a sentiment echoed by many artists and critics—they embrace it as a tool for innovation, arguing for a collective artistic future shaped by shared knowledge and collaboration. Their previous projects, like the AI-generated music on Herndon's album “PROTO,” and their web platform, Holly+, reflect their commitment to rethinking authorship and media in an era increasingly reliant on AI. By engaging with these technologies, Herndon and Dryhurst challenge the cultural status quo, inviting dialogue on the potential for AI to foster new artistic paradigms.