Artists Face Job and Income Loss as AI Adoption Grows

The advancement of AI technology is leading to job and income losses for artists. Following the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, OpenAI began marketing the software as an automation product for businesses. Initially, AI's inaccuracy made it unsuitable for precision-demanding tasks, but it found a niche in creative work.

AI technology is significantly impacting those in creative fields like art, graphic design, and illustration. Silicon Valley companies have trained AI systems on numerous artworks, enabling them to generate images tailored to client needs. These AI-generated products are not original and cannot be copyrighted, yet many corporate clients find them satisfactory.

Artists are concerned not that AI systems will surpass their work, but that clients will deem AI art 'good enough,' leading to wage reductions and a threat to their livelihoods. This situation mirrors the historical Luddite movement, where technology was used to produce cheaper, lower-quality goods, driving down prices.

These changes are affecting artists' sense of identity and self-worth, as many face declining job offers and financial instability. The perception that AI is undermining human creativity is spreading, impacting the arts industry as a whole.

The rise of AI technology is affecting not only artists but also the broader industry, posing significant challenges to their livelihoods and identities.