However, people use AI art with the excuse that people can make art even if they’re disabled. This excused has been used to dismiss all of the work made by disabled people, individuals who can ONLY draw with their MOUTH or FEET as an example. As a result, a lot of artists do feel like their hours of effort have gone to waste compared to someone that just told a robot to draw something for them, resulting in less engagement next to these AI “artists”. Don’t even get me started on the numerous artists that are passionate about the work they do while they’re literally BLIND.
If you were one of these people, how would YOU feel about it?
It’s incredibly easy to hop on the AI art hate train (hey I do that sometimes) but I think Niko’s word is a genuinely different experience when it comes to generated art. It’s a great world, even with my predispositions with AI art. Those who hate the world just cause it’s AI art and haven’t actually gone there should at least check the world out for a couple minutes. And touch some grass as a souvenir.
I have, just now in fact. Doesn’t look all that different to all of the other AI stuff I’ve seen on the internet. Most other AI images have a similar “dreamy” effect to them.
I mean, why should that be bad? Yes, it may make it easier for those people to create at least descent facsimiles of the things they create in their imagination, possibly rendering it in a way they may either be incapable of, or unable to reach at this time-- But what’s the argument? Why does something being more accessable and easy for some now, dismiss the hardness, amazingness and determination of those that push past those limits and learn to be creative and artistic anyway?
That’s Amazing with it Without AI existing in the world-- We always value people doing things the harder way to some degree, same as many people thing Traditional Art or complicated unique methods of art are more impressive than our normalized Digital Art methods-- We recognize the effort it took and appreciate that-- That doesn’t mean art outside of that is less valuable, or that it’s shameful to do things “The easier way”-- Especially in the position of the disabled, idk if we should really be the ones passing judgement in that-- Other disabled people can if they so choose, but that’s a discussion that I’m sure is also ripe with nuance.
Like idk-- Yes, if you’re blind and make art? Amazing, truly wonderful and I know plenty of artists do. But what-- Am I supposed to yell at the blind person using AI to create stuff and tell them they’re being lazy and not good enough? Or hype them that they can reach a potential they may not at this time feel capable of, and undermine then if they don’t strive for that? Because none of that feels correct to me.
I-- What?? 99.99999% Percent of VRC content is 100% human made-- I promise AI’s haven’t yet done the full VRChat world creation and upload pipeline, maybe it will eventually-- But as of now, VRC isn’t running out of Human made assets in abundance lol.
While I certainly can always appreciate a discussion regarding the inevitable nature of automation and the consequences of “line goes up” mentality driven by industrialism… perhaps this isn’t the thread for it.
While we’re at it, can you please at least avoid featuring AI-made content in developer updates in the future? This is not something VRChat’s reputation was never fond of and cannot be fond of if it hopes to thrive in the future. I’m not mad, or threatening to do things unfavorable to staff and the people that made VRChat, I’m worried because a future of content of this kind cannot be pursued in good conscience. I kindly ask that you educate yourself in your spare time just to see where we’re all coming from. I love this platform and I want it to be kept alive as much as the next person.
Thank you for listening
The problem with this world is its identity to entirely tied to its use of Gen AI.
I have not been to the world myself, nor will I because I do not like or approve of Gen AI in practically any case and do not want to support it in any way.
My opinion of this world is based entirely off of what is in its description and marketing material (video clip viewable from visiting the world link). From what I can gather from those things, the world is effectively an immersive art exhibit (think: Meow Wolf or Omegamart) where all the pieces on display are made from Generative AI. This is in the simplest terms what it reads as as a viewer. The world is seemingly majority made of Gen AI and is intended to show off Gen AI. This, in my opinion, is unacceptable. The work put in to make it a world viewable on the VRChat platform is made irrelevant to me by the extremely extensive use of Gen AI.
As for the bigger discussion on Gen AI, 1. I fundamentally believe that it is unethical due to its theft of work from artists, 2. how it has already been used to take away jobs from artists, and 3. because of the environmental toll it takes being so ridiculously high.
If we lived in a society where no one had to work, the second point would be irrelevant. However, people need to work to get money to pay their rent, and by the use of Gen AI jobs for artists have been dwindling. The Animation Guild is on strike for this exact reason.
The first point is particularly important to me because I would never want someone using my characters, likeness, or even art style to spread other beliefs I fundamentally disagree with. It is already being used to create inappropriate pictures of underaged people and/or public figures. Its been used to spread misinformation and disinformation using the likeness of real politicians and celebrities.
Even if the use of Gen AI depicts an opinion I agree with, I would rather say it myself regardless because of point 3- the toll on the environment has been MASSIVE in the last 2 years since Gen AI became relatively mainstream. I dont have the time to find the studies/numbers to back up my point right now, but the studies are not hard to find with a simple google search.
Even if points 1 and 2 were not problems (which, to be clear, they absolutely are), point 3 is still such a massive problem that it doesnt matter.
Tbc- I probably do share some opinions on IP law and copyright with you, but ultimately because of points 2 and 3, it means that i still fundamentally disagree with the use of Gen AI anyways.
We fundamentally have different stances on Gen AI and I don’t believe I am going to convince you to how I feel, but I just need to be clear with my stance. I do not think Gen AI use is ethical and, because of the seeming premise of the world, it should not be used as advertising.
I’d reply longer but Tupper and the team would like this to chill, so I’ll just say: If you’d like my response, you can read my other responses in this thread-- They cover pretty much every aspect of this comment.
If you’d like to discuss further, we can move it to direct messages.
But I will say: Same as YOU feel like there’s moral and ethical concerns being missed, I also feel that way-- Just on the opposite side in certain aspects. I believe AI can be good, I think AI itself is mostly neutral, and I think corporate greed is bad-- And I think for most they’ve all combined into one topic.
On another note, I REALLY like that the team is making more effort to prevent exploits from happening. We need to keep cracking down on more exploitative efforts in VRChat before it’s too late, and I’m happy that it’s happening sooner than later, even though things are slow. Plus, imposters are gonna look less ugly now and that’s neat!
Will this code signing eventually apply to verify texture modification in the world cache? That is becoming a thing with Pseudo ad blockers for worlds based on modifying cache.
As development continues for the Sunset Bar, and as well for my fellow creators and collaborators in the bartending scene, I wish to extend a massive thank you to VRChat for this move to correct the epidemic of “Dataswapping” as it was called in the streets.
Good day to you, Asset Bundle Cache Swap. May I never worry about you again!
If the world is a critical look at the usage of AI and how it pertains to art, maybe don’t use it for something as flippant as a dev update thumbnail and remove it of that context?
Also looking forward to the hand tracking update! I hope there’s a button for Mute too, it is weird that I have to hold the mute button for so long. Have to hold in every time I sneeze while I wait for myself to mute.
