The new creative frontier – AI art is as real as it gets and it’s pushing new artistic boundaries around the globe

The history of AI art can be traced back to the early days of computer science when pioneers like Alan Turing and Marvin Minsky were laying the groundwork for artificial intelligence. In the 1950s and 1960s, AI researchers began using computers to generate images and paintings. These early efforts were often met with skepticism from the art world, but they laid the foundation for later artists who would use AI to create truly innovative and compelling works of art. One of the earliest examples of AI art comes from the computer program AARON, which was created by artist, Harold Cohen in 1973. AARON is programmed to create abstract drawings based on a set of rules that Cohen himself devised. Since its creation, AARON has produced thousands of drawings, which have even been exhibited in major museums around the world. These drawings were often described as being “lifelike” and “expressive”.

In the 1980s and 1990s, AI began to be used more extensively in creating art. Artists began to use AI to create three-dimensional models, sculptures, paintings, and drawings. It was this era that introduced another important figure in AI art: David Cope. Cope – author, composer, scientist, and former professor of music at the University of California, had used AI to generate new pieces of music that mimic the style of famous composers such as Bach and Mozart. Notably, his works explore how artificial intelligence can be used to create original works of art that retain the essence of human creation.

Fast forward to recent years, AI art has reached new heights with the development of deep learning algorithms. These algorithms have allowed artists to create realistic portraits, landscapes, and other images virtually indistinguishable from those created by humans. In some cases, AI-created artwork has even fetched high prices at auction houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s.