You, I and AI

Episode 19 - On my commitments to you, transparency and Truth as AI evolves.

Hey,

Hope you’ve been doing well. Stay warm.

I was thinking a lot about AI stuff recently, and would love to know what your opinions are. As a test, I’ve asked the Chatty-friend to generate a little bonfire image for us:

(AI-Generated)

This is more or less how I pictured the environment I’ve been trying to establish with you here. I think the image looks pretty good, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways or styles of making something like this, without AI. I was thinking of doing one myself, in a more experimental style.

But what do you think? How do you feel about AI-generated art?

I honestly don’t know what to think, but I do know that I care about respecting you, and as part of this I will treat you the same way I’d like to be treated: with transparency and truth. I will always caption and indicate what you’re looking at in this space. There shall be no amount of pixels catching your retinas that are there ‘just because’. No image that is un-sacred. No word is spoken or written without purpose.

Language is important. Trust is important. And, as humans, we need language to establish trust between us.

Why is this important, moving forward?

You may have noticed the new Google’s VEO model that now creates ultra-realistic videos. Impressive. But what does it mean?

It means soon anyone can create an entire life-like movie with a few clicks, no actors or sound designers or musicians or camera-people required. And what does that mean?

God only knows.

How should you feel about it? How should anyone? I don’t know. But feel free to share your opinion in the comments: I’d honestly like to hear it. Many people weren’t too happy with the idea from what I’ve noticed.

I think fundamentally we despise not knowing what we’re looking at, or why are we even supposed to care. The question is: what are you supposed to care about, anymore?

And many echo the same worry: how can you tell what’s real anymore? How can you trust the news? Is there a war? Isn’t there? Is the economy crashing? It isn’t? Is there any such thing as ‘Antarctica’? How do you know? Have you ever been there? Is the Earth a sphere? How do you know? You saw pictures of it and NASA documentaries? Do you just believe it because everyone else does? What if the world is flat, on top of a turtle? It could be.

Photo by Kier in Sight Archives on Unsplash

But it doesn’t matter, right? Because at the end of the day all this is inconsequential data. But that still doesn’t save us from the likely incoming wave of unparalleled confusion. And in this great ocean, I think, there will be a requirement for some sort of trust and stability, because the need for basic human connection is the same as it was a million years ago.

My Commitment to you, as an Artist

Unlike traditional artists, I make digital art. This is a bit more tricky, because with AI everywhere, it will soon mean that you won’t be able to trust whatever’s happening on the screen in front of you. The danger is that it will all become some sort of unintelligible mess.

However, this also affords us an opportunity. This will also mean that the relationship between You and whatever creator/artist you follow must evolve. It must be based on trust, and trust is earned. I can’t speak for others, but this is what I can promise you.

1. I make all my Art on Photoshop. I love doing it and I’ve been doing it for over a decade. I will not stop doing it, and obviously I’d like to keep sharing it with you, which means it’s my responsibility to inform you, always, what it is you’re looking at. As such, I will always caption all the images I share here or on my Blog.

2. Everything I write here and in my Books, I write myself by listening to whatever the Unconscious has to say. I don’t use AI to write to copy and paste things. Now that said, not using ChatGPT for polishing and editing would be silly: the damn thing is incredible. So of course I make use of it, and this is how: research, cognitive development, editing, polishing. I do not copy&paste. It’s important for me to state this.

3. This place, alongside all my creative work, is about exploring my soul and the Unconscious and sharing what I find with you. AI is an excellent tool in doing this, but it doesn’t replace it (although others may state differently). I place great value in original creative endeavour and I want to make sure that’s what you get.

Now: others can state the same and yet deceive you. Of course that could happen. Maybe all of this has been written by ChatGPT and I don’t even exist! So a certain leap of faith is required. Which is why, beyond all words and statements I (or others) can make, you must use your own intuition.

Listen to your gut feeling. To your heart. If something is off, run. Don’t look back. Find treasure elsewhere. Do your diligent research.

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You ARE NOT a mindless consumer. I will never treat you that way. I will never treat you as just some kind of ‘client’ that can’t distinguish left from right and will simply passively consume whatever. I hate the idea of the endless noise, and what I would like to create here is the opposite.

Demand Truth

This is a sacred space. It is a bonfire in a dark clearing, surrounded by tall, endless forests. A place of silence, contemplation and mystical initiation. Likewise, I don’t want to ‘sell’ you my art, but by the Gods, it seems some sort of currency exchange still exists (until it won’t) and therefore we all have bills to pay and food costs money. Therefore, I will ask you to consider a sacred exchange but I’d like to change the language.

It’s not a ‘service to user’ or a ‘product to consumer’ - it’s an exchange of soul. I have always intended my art prints to be sacred items, and artistically I’ve always loved the idea of Christian Ikons, quite popular in the East where I come from. That’s a topic for later, but that feeling of imbuing an object with holy energy is what I aim to do.

Of course I ask for your trust. And I take responsibility for breaking it, should that ever happen. This is necessary. As AI evolves, it will be difficult for us to distinguish truth from falsehood. A new level of cognitive development is required.

You will Have to Demand Truth.

Because if you don’t, many will assume you do not care. That you will buy the new movie or phone or book or whatever because you just can’t help yourself. Because you’re a mindless robot and exists just for your wallet, easily hypnotized by good marketing.

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Art Spotlight: E NOMINE

I have another obscure musical band for you today. This is ‘E Nomine’ a German musical project from the 90s led by Christian Weller and Friedrich Graner. Basically it’s a mix between techno and Gregorian chanting - absolute genius! I discovered them in my teenage years and their music has been a good companion throughout my life.

The project had ended in 2008 after releasing 4 incredible albums. But then, in 2023, the mad lads returned with re-releases of their music on Spotify, re-orchestrating all their albums in HD. I was thrilled.

I actually contacted Mr.Graner for an interview but he refused ): Maybe one day.

‘Das Testament’ album cover, 2000

It’s hard to describe their music, but imagine something like a really cool Gothic mass inside a nightclub. If the concept appeals to you, try it out. My favourite tracks are:

• Mysteria

• Der Blaubeermund

• Vater Unser (probably their most popular track, and the first I ever found)

Now: their remastered albums quite clearly use AI-generated art for the cover. I remember when I first saw this I was quite disappointed. They look okay I guess, but I could’ve done a better job if they’d hired me because I absolutely love the vibe of their music. I have a feeling their album cover art won’t age as well as their original ones.

But what the hell do I know, huh.

New Art this Week: Maya God

Got a new artwork done this week. Suppose I don’t have to mention it’s not AI. This is another one of my ongoing series of art on mythology, inspired by the designs from the videogame SMITE.

This is Cabrakan, Maya God of Earthquakes and Mountains.

This artwork has been created on Photoshop, using an external 3D software for the model reference, which I then took and painted over. In some sense, it’s a mixed media, entirely digital.

I’ve included this in a print bundle which you can find HERE. These bundles are printed by me (no print-on-demand) on special, high-quality, metallic paper.

The artworks are united by the frame, which creates the idea of a collection, so they look really good to display side-by-side on your favourite, sacred wall.

Conclusion

Thanks for reaching this point. I do care a lot about this connection and want to make sure we can figure things out together, otherwise the danger is unintelligible chaos and noise. So here’s another question for you:

Blessings,