Are Machines the new artists?

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It’s impossible to scroll through social media these days without stumbling across someone proudly showcasing an AI-generated piece and claiming it as their own.  Let’s be clear: machines aren’t artists, and what they generate isn’t art—at least not in the way we’ve come to understand it. The whole argument feels disingenuous and, frankly, a little insulting to those who pour their hearts and souls into their craft. What these AI tools produce isn’t creation; it’s a collage of stolen pieces from actual human artists.

What Does It Mean to Create?

Creativity isn’t about merging existing works and passing it off as new. It’s about expressing something deeply personal, that is uniquely yours. It’s rooted in lived experiences, emotions, and perspectives that computers can only replicate. When  someone claims an AI-generated piece as their “creation,” I can’t help but feel frustrated. Let’s not kid ourselves. Machines don’t have memories, don’t feel joy or pain, and don’t wrestle with the complexities of existence. How could they possibly create anything meaningful?

black and white robot toy on red wooden table

Robot reading book. Photo taken by Andrea De Santis; Image courtesy of Unsplash.

What these machines do is scrape data from countless human-made works and remix it into something superficially original. It’s not creation. It’s mimicry. Worse, this process often involves pulling from the works of countless artists without their consent, turning their hard-won originality into fodder for algorithms. Is this what we’re calling creativity now?

The Role of Machines in Art

Don’t get me wrong, AI tools have their place. They can help people brainstorm, automate tedious tasks, or provide inspiration when the creative well runs dry. But let’s not pretend they’re doing the heavy lifting. The spark of creativity, what makes art meaningful, comes from the artist. Without a human to guide it, an AI is just a glorified blender, combining styles and techniques into a soulless imitation of the real thing.

white and brown human robot illustration

Sad Robot. Photo taken by Possessed Photography; Image courtesy of Unsplash.

That’s the crux of it: AI-generated art lacks soul. Sure, an algorithm can churn out a pretty picture or an impressive symphony, but it’s all surface-level. There’s no depth, no story, no intent behind it. It’s like looking at a painting without knowing the artist, without feeling the weight of their story or their struggles. That connection—our shared humanity—is what makes art powerful. Machines can’t give us that, no matter how advanced they become.

Can Machines Ever Be Artists?

Let’s stop pretending machines can be artists—they’re not. AI is a tool. And while tools help, they are not the driver behind creative brilliance. Just as a paintbrush doesn’t deserve credit for a masterpiece, AI doesn’t either. The genius lies in how humans use these tools, not in the tools themselves.

The Human Element in Creativity

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Hand holding phone. Photo taken by Solen Feyissa; Image courtesy of Unsplash.

At the end of the day, creativity is about more than assembling pieces of what’s already out there. It’s about bringing something new into the world, something infused with meaning and shaped by personal experience. That’s something only humans can do. Machines can mimic our styles, but they can’t replicate the heart and soul that make art truly special.

It’s frustrating to see people act as though machines are capable of replacing artists. To even suggest and try to do it is worse. As Drew Gooden once said, “why we’re in such a rush to replace all of the work that humans have done.” . Why are we trying to replace the fun parts of life with soulless imitations, when we should be automating the tedious and boring tasks?

Let’s keep the magic in creativity where it belongs–within people.

Featured image Created by author; Image courtesy of Imagine

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