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AI Art and Ethics: Protecting Human Creativity in the Age of Machines

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Background

What is AI-generated "Art"?

AI-generated art is art produced using artificial intelligence. There are many different AI models—like DALL·E (OpenAi), Midjourney, Stable Diffusion and Adobe Firefly that create visual content from text prompts. These models are reshaping creative workflows and challenging traditional definitions of artistry.

These tools are trained on massive datasets of images and text, allowing them to generate artwork in different styles, sometimes very close to work made by human artists.

Why Are We Studying This?

While AI can mimic the appearance of creativity, many scholars argue that true creativity requires human values, emotions, and consciousness—qualities AI fundamentally lacks. AI operates by learning from massive datasets, but it does not experience the world, form intentions, or understand meaning in the way humans do. This distinction has sparked deep ethical questions:

  • Is AI-generated “art” considered art?
  • Are artists being fairly compensated when their work is used to train AI?
  • Who owns AI-generated content?

The Beyond the Brush project was created to explore the rise of AI-generated art and its cultural consequences. While we can’t stop technological progress, we can shape how it integrates into our world.


We examined the ethical implications of AI-generated art, focusing on questions of authorship, ownership, and artistic value. We collected data through a survey targeting members of our university (Binghamton University), analyzing their perspectives on AI’s role in creative industries. This research does not aim to provide legal conclusions or explore AI-generated content in fields outside of visual arts, like music or literature. Additionally, our study will be limited to survey responses and existing literature.

Through BEYOND:

  • We shall draw thoughtful boundaries between machine-made creations and the soul of human expression;

  • We shall confront the ethical questions AI raises, seeking responsibility and fairness in how we move forward;

  • We shall yield in understanding of the inevitability of technological progress, yet shape its course with awareness;

  • We shall protect originality and promote transparency around the sources behind AI-generated work;

  • We shall honor the notion that art is more than image—it is memory, identity, and the spirit of our shared humanity;

  • We shall foster dialogue —open, challenging, and compassionate—to shape the future of art with thought and care.

Why is it important?

The abuse of AI-generated content, combined with a lack of ethical oversight, has negatively impacted the world of art.

From an artist’s perspective:

It devalues human-made art—art that reflects an artist’s personal choices, reflections, emotions, and cultural context. This trend risks leading to a gradual decline in human artistic creation, which has long stood as a testament to the depth and brilliance of human civilization.

From a non-artist’s perspective:

Imagine a world full of visually appealing works that lack the emotional depth necessary for genuine human connection. In the pursuit of profit, companies may choose AI over real human creators, leading not only to the erosion of creative professions but also to a loss in the richness of cultural and emotional expression. This is not just a threat to the art landscape—it’s a deeper erosion of the human spirit.

Real-World Cases That Show the Problem

  • Getty Images v. Stability AI (2023): Getty sued over the unauthorized use of millions of copyrighted images.
  • Artist Class Action Lawsuit (2023): Artists sued Midjourney, DeviantArt, and Stability AI for using their work without their permission.
  • Théâtre D'opéra Spatial (2023): The U.S. Copyright Office denied copyright for an AI-generated artwork, highlighting the role of human authorship.
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