Digital Culture & AudioVisual Challenges

The contemporary landscape of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) has sparked profound philosophical inquiries into the very bedrock of modernity, delving into ontological paradigms, ethical frameworks, and aesthetic categories. This paper undertakes an exploration of the intriguing question: Can A.I. truly create art? This seemingly straightforward query unravels into a profound investigation into the essence of “art” itself, necessitating a reexamination of concepts related to imagination, creation, and artistic genius.

Drawing from the intellectual legacies of eminent philosophers such as Immanuel Kant, Walter Benjamin, Martin Heidegger, Theodor Adorno, and Jacques Ranciere, this paper embarks on a nuanced discourse. While acknowledging the significance of each philosopher’s perspective, the focus of this analysis revolves around key notions such as the “creative vs. responsive imagination” within the Romantic context, the concept of “radical imagination” championed by philosophers like Herbert Marcuse and Theodor Adorno, Walter Benjamin’s exploration of the loss of art’s “aura” through its mechanical reproduction, and Martin Heidegger’s proposition of artistic creation based on the finitude of Being-towards-Death.

The central argument posits that the distinct realms of human creativity and radical imagination remain beyond the reach of A.I. capabilities to replicate, at least up to the present moment. While acknowledging A.I.’s contribution to human arts, the paper contends that the inherent limitations of A.I.’s operation, characterized by the mere collection and assembly of data, position it in a subordinate role. Furthermore, by referencing Critical Theory (Adorno, Marcuse, and Löwenthal), the paper delves into the sociopolitical dimensions of art, weaving a narrative that integrates insights from various philosophical perspectives.

At its core, this paper poses a provocative question: "Can A.I. produce true Art?" It challenges the prevailing assumption among scholars that A.I. unquestionably engenders artistic creations, urging a critical examination of what defines “art”. Importantly, the paper refrains from advocating for the dismissal of A.I.'s potential or endorsing neo-Luddite tendencies that seek a return to past modes of technological existence and art creation. Instead, it seeks to scrutinize the evolving boundaries of art creation, imagination, and creativity within the contemporary realm of A.I. artistic production.

In essence, this interdisciplinary presentation intertwines Philosophy (Aesthetics), Philosophy of Technology, A.I. Studies, and socio-political philosophical approaches. It not only underscores the existing gap between A.I. capabilities and human creativity but also underscores the need for a new aesthetic theory. Such a theory should emerge from an original synthesis of philosophical elements that have shaped the discourse on Art since the advent of modernity, marking a crucial step toward understanding the evolving dynamics of art in the age of A.I.