Controversy was stirred up in the art community last year when the digital painting “Theatre D’opera Spatial” by Jason Allen was awarded first place in the Colorado State Fair’s annual art competition. The striking work features three figures dressed in long robes, standing against a large circular window in an intricately detailed room. Impressive though it is, Allen didn’t use a traditional digital painting program (such as Photoshop or Procreate) to create it. He opted instead to generate the work by using an artificial intelligence (AI) program called Midjourney. With this program, the user need only input a text prompt and the algorithm will output a completely new image, with no drawing or artistic skill required.
Accepting his victory unapologetically, Allen stated he “didn’t break any rules” and disclosed his use of the program when submitting his entry. Some might claim that Allen took advantage of the general population’s lack of familiarity with AI programs, as the details of Midjourney as a program were unknown to the judges. However, a statement was released to clarify that the judges would still have awarded Allen first place even if they had been fully aware of the work’s origins.
Traditional artists argue that allowing this type of art into competitions undermines their artistic skill and effort. It could also set a dangerous precedent and pose a threat to their livelihoods. In addition, the images used to train the AI’s algorithm are often taken from the Internet without the original artists’ consent, raising concerns regarding ethics and copyright. Certain online art communities have already explicitly banned AI-generated images.
Photo TAKEN FROM Instagram 照片：IG提供
Historically, technological advancement has always intimidated people (photography was considered “art’s most mortal enemy” by a critic in the 19th century), but if this cutting-edge technology can be utilized respectfully, AI could bring about untold artistic innovations.
去年，傑森艾倫的數位畫《太空歌劇院》在科羅拉多州博覽會的年度藝術競賽中獲得第一名，引發了藝術界的爭議。這幅引人注目的作品描繪了三個身穿長袍的人物，站在一間錯綜複雜的房間裡，倚靠著一扇大圓窗。雖然這幅畫令人印象深刻，但艾倫並沒有使用傳統的數位繪圖軟體（如Photoshop或Procreate）來創作它。相反地，他選擇使用一項名為Midjourney的「人工智慧」（AI）程式來產出作品。使用這個程式時，用戶只需要輸入一項提示字元，演算法就會輸出一幅全新的圖像，不需要繪畫或藝術技巧。
艾倫毫無歉意地接受了他的勝利，據他表示「沒有違反任何規則」，並在提交他的參賽作品時透露了他是使用這項程式創作。有些人可能會主張艾倫利用了普羅大眾對AI程式不熟悉的情況，就如同評審不知道Midjourney這項AI程式的詳細資訊。然而，有份聲明澄清說，即使評審們完全了解作品的起源，他們仍然會授予艾倫第一名。
傳統藝術家認為，允許這類的藝術參加比賽會破壞他們的藝術技巧與努力。它還可能開創一項危險的先例，並對他們的生計構成威脅。此外，用於訓練AI演算法的圖像通常是在未經原作者授的情況下從網路上獲取，這引發了對道德及版權的擔憂。某些線上藝術社群已經明確禁止AI生成的圖像。
從歷史上來看，科技進步總是令人生畏（就像攝影在西元十九世紀被評論家認為是「藝術最致命的敵人」），但如果這項尖端的技術能夠被妥善運用，AI將可帶來數不勝數的藝術創新。
Key Vocabulary
1. controversy n. 爭議；爭論
There was controversy when it was found that the bakery had used harmful chemicals in its bread. 當那間麵包店被發現在麵包上使用有害的化學物質時引發了爭議。
2. prompt n.（電腦）提示；（演員）提詞 When you see the prompt, please enter your username and password. 當你看到這項提示時，請輸入你的使用者名稱及密碼。
3. output vt.（電腦）輸出；生產／input vt.（電腦）輸入
My new computer is great for playing games on. It outputs a really high image quality to the screen. 我的新電腦非常適合玩遊戲。它能輸出非常高的畫質到螢幕上。
4. submit v. 提交；呈遞；服從
You’ll need to submit your request to the purchasing department. 你需要把你的要求提交給採購部門。
5. precedent n. 先例；慣例；（法律）判例
The US should follow the precedent set by Taiwan when dealing with COVID-19. 美國在處理新冠肺炎時，應該要參照台灣的先例。
6. ethic n. 道德；倫理；行為準則
Throughout his career, Xavier’s managers have always praised him for his work ethic. 終其職業生涯，賽維爾的經理總是稱讚他的職業道德。
7. explicitly adv. 明確地；明白地
I explicitly told you to come home straight after school, so why did you go to your friend’s house first? 我明明叫你放學後直接回家，那你為什麼先去你朋友家？
8. intimidate vt. 威嚇；脅迫
The other children always try to avoid York because he intimidates anyone weaker than him. 其他小孩總是試圖要避開約克，因為他會威嚇任何比他弱小的人。
9. mortal adj. 致命的；凡人的；不共戴天的
The brave warrior kept on
fighting until he received a mortal wound to his chest.
那位勇敢的戰士持續戰鬥，直至他的胸部受到致命的傷害。
MORE INFORMATION
intricately adv. 複雜地；雜亂地
algorithm n. 演算法；計算程式
unapologetically adv. 毫無歉意地
familiarity n. 熟悉；精通；親近
livelihood n. 生計；生活來源
cutting-edge adj. 尖端的；前衛的
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