Machine Surrealism
I have written a paper describing my efforts to use generative AI to create a new, machine-based form of surrealistic visual art. Here is the abstract and the download link follows.
Abstract:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming ubiquitous in everyday life; this is especially true as regards the rapid (and controversial) deployment of AI-generated images. This paper describes how neural networks operate to create images and then presents a case for the inherent creativity of Generative Artificial Intelligence. Such creativity is based on emergent characteristics that surprise even the creators of the algorithms, and it provides the opportunity for artistic collaboration with AIs, as opposed to simple tool usage. The author proposes Surrealism as a paradigm for AI art and shows parallels between classical Surrealism and his own work, using the process of automatic writing as the key link. This new, machine-based vein of Surrealism is situated within art history and within the history of art and technology, and it is illustrated with examples of the author’s images, along with their generating prompts. Caveats and challenges are discussed, as well as opportunities and affordances, yielding a deeper understanding of the subject.
Keywords- Generative AI, Surrealism, Automatism, Creativity, Collaboration, AI Art
