A STATEMENT ON AI

I recently posted on Instagram my thoughts about using AI as a visual artist. The message was intended for my clients and followers, but—as with many things on social media—it ended up growing in reach, with people chiming in on both sides. Just to clear the air:

For me, art has always been a combination of skill, experience, expression, and most importantly, passion. My love of art started as a kid by emulating Marvel comic books, eventually moving to an education and career. My earliest professional work was done with Rapidograph pens on Bristol board. I use a variety of tools these days, mainly a combination of Adobe Illustrator, traditional sketch work, and *gasp!* clipart for accents and flourishes. That's where it ends; If I can't figure it out beyond that, it doesn't get done.

Currently, most of us use Artificial Intelligence in our everyday lives. Social media, search engines, it's virtually impossible to disconnect AI from the world we live in. But when we use it to generate art, music, etc., then call ourselves artists, a line has been crossed. Along with love, creation is the most powerful and rewarding of human experiences; I am literally giving something of myself with every piece that I create. Tasking an algorithm with generating that experience is surrendering much of what makes us human in the first place.

Just for the record, I've never touched ChatGPT or anything similar and I hopefully never will. Again, if I can't figure it out on my own, it's not coming from me.

Is it hypocritical to use AI while expressing negative opinions about AI creation? For me the answer is no. There is no alternative to using AI-driven platforms to reach my core audience, while switching to AI art creation would be a deliberate choice to step away from everything I've built up to this point. In other words: Would I use AI to find tour dates for my favorite band? Yes. Would I use it to write new songs for them? Never.

Just make it abundantly clear: I do not use AI for art creation and I never will.

Peace.

Bill Wood

Los Angeles, CA