Generative AI Art Tools and the De-professionalization of Labor: Technological Transformation in Artistic Creation

• In Event: 50462 - Section on Science, Knowledge, and Technology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 6: Labor

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of generative AI tools on artistic labor with in-depth interviews, particularly focusing on how they influence the labor process of artistic creation. Firstly, it explores the technological transformation driven by generative AI, with tools like Stable Diffusion and MidJourney reshaping artistic production by lowering barriers to entry and "democratizing" the creative process. Secondly, the study analyzes the de-professionalization of art, where AI reduces the reliance on traditional skills and individual creativity in favor of data-driven outputs. Finally, it discusses how these tools affect professional identity, labor dynamics, and the broader art industry. The findings highlight both opportunities and challenges presented by AI in art, raising critical questions about the future of artistic professions and the value of creative labor in the digital age.

Author

• Xinxin Xu, Peking University