Prof. Dr. Catrin Misselhorn (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen)
The talk explores the question of whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) can truly create art, or if there is an essential “human factor” in art production. Against the background of AI’s growing capabilities, traditional concepts in art theory like authorship are reconsidered. It is argued that authorship is a necessary condition for art, while aesthetic responsibility is at least a necessary condition for authorship of artworks. Although AI can function as an aesthetic agent, it cannot bear aesthetic responsibility. Therefore, it can neither on its own nor in cooperation with humans be the author of artworks. However, AI is able to produce objects that are in their manifest properties indistinguishable from works of art, I will speak of “fake art.” It will be shown to what extent the massive occurrence of AI-generated fake art has a detrimental effect on art practice.
