Is writing prompts really making art?

Jon McCormack; Camilo Cruz Gambardella; Nina Rajcic; Stephen James Krol; Maria Teresa Llano; Meng Yang

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-29956-8_13

Is writing prompts really making art?

Jon McCormack, Camilo Cruz Gambardella, Nina Rajcic, Stephen James Krol, Maria Teresa Llano, Meng Yang

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research › peer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In recent years Generative Machine Learning systems have advanced significantly. A current wave of generative systems use text prompts to create complex imagery, video, even 3D datasets. The creators of these systems claim a revolution in bringing creativity and art to anyone who can type a prompt. In this position paper, we question the basis for these claims, dividing our analysis into three areas: the limitations of linguistic descriptions, implications of the dataset, and lastly, matters of materiality and embodiment. We conclude with an analysis of the creative possibilities enabled by prompt-based systems, asking if they can be considered a new artistic medium.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	12th International Conference, EvoMUSART 2023 Held as Part of EvoStar 2023 Brno, Czech Republic, April 12–14, 2023 Proceedings
Editors	Colin Johnson, Nereida Rodríguez-Fernández, Sérgio M. Rebelo
Place of Publication	Cham Switzerland
Publisher	Springer
Pages	196-211
Number of pages	16
ISBN (Electronic)	9783031299568
ISBN (Print)	9783031299551
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29956-8_13
Publication status	Published - 2023
Event	International Conference on Evolutionary and Biologically Inspired Music, Sound, Art and Design 2023: held as Part of EvoStar 2023 - Brno, Czechia Duration: 12 Apr 2023 → 14 Apr 2023 Conference number: 12th https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-29956-8 (Proceedings) https://www.evostar.org/2023/evomusart/ (Website)

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Publisher	Springer
Volume	13988
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	International Conference on Evolutionary and Biologically Inspired Music, Sound, Art and Design 2023
Abbreviated title	EvoMUSART 2023
Country/Territory	Czechia
City	Brno
Period	12/04/23 → 14/04/23
Internet address	https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-29956-8 (Proceedings) https://www.evostar.org/2023/evomusart/ (Website)

Keywords

Art
Artificial Intelligence
Diffusion Models
Neural Networks

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-29956-8_13

Cite this

McCormack, J., Cruz Gambardella, C., Rajcic, N., Krol, S. J., Llano, M. T., & Yang, M. (2023). Is writing prompts really making art? In C. Johnson, N. Rodríguez-Fernández, & S. M. Rebelo (Eds.), 12th International Conference, EvoMUSART 2023 Held as Part of EvoStar 2023 Brno, Czech Republic, April 12–14, 2023 Proceedings (pp. 196-211). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 13988). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29956-8_13

McCormack, Jon ; Cruz Gambardella, Camilo ; Rajcic, Nina et al. / Is writing prompts really making art?. 12th International Conference, EvoMUSART 2023 Held as Part of EvoStar 2023 Brno, Czech Republic, April 12–14, 2023 Proceedings. editor / Colin Johnson ; Nereida Rodríguez-Fernández ; Sérgio M. Rebelo. Cham Switzerland : Springer, 2023. pp. 196-211 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

@inproceedings{772525e77c274607862057cfb20a53e0,

title = "Is writing prompts really making art?",

abstract = "In recent years Generative Machine Learning systems have advanced significantly. A current wave of generative systems use text prompts to create complex imagery, video, even 3D datasets. The creators of these systems claim a revolution in bringing creativity and art to anyone who can type a prompt. In this position paper, we question the basis for these claims, dividing our analysis into three areas: the limitations of linguistic descriptions, implications of the dataset, and lastly, matters of materiality and embodiment. We conclude with an analysis of the creative possibilities enabled by prompt-based systems, asking if they can be considered a new artistic medium.",

keywords = "Art, Artificial Intelligence, Diffusion Models, Neural Networks",

author = "Jon McCormack and \{Cruz Gambardella\}, Camilo and Nina Rajcic and Krol, \{Stephen James\} and Llano, \{Maria Teresa\} and Meng Yang",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by an Australian Research Council Funding Information: This research was supported by an Australian Research Council grant DP220101223. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.; International Conference on Evolutionary and Biologically Inspired Music, Sound, Art and Design 2023 : held as Part of EvoStar 2023, EvoMUSART 2023 ; Conference date: 12-04-2023 Through 14-04-2023",

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doi = "10.1007/978-3-031-29956-8\_13",

language = "English",

isbn = "9783031299551",

series = "Lecture Notes in Computer Science",

publisher = "Springer",

pages = "196--211",

editor = "Colin Johnson and Nereida Rodr{\'i}guez-Fern{\'a}ndez and Rebelo, \{S{\'e}rgio M.\}",

booktitle = "12th International Conference, EvoMUSART 2023 Held as Part of EvoStar 2023 Brno, Czech Republic, April 12–14, 2023 Proceedings",

address = "Switzerland",

url = "https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-29956-8, https://www.evostar.org/2023/evomusart/",

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McCormack, J , Cruz Gambardella, C, Rajcic, N, Krol, SJ, Llano, MT & Yang, M 2023, Is writing prompts really making art? in C Johnson, N Rodríguez-Fernández & SM Rebelo (eds), 12th International Conference, EvoMUSART 2023 Held as Part of EvoStar 2023 Brno, Czech Republic, April 12–14, 2023 Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 13988, Springer, Cham Switzerland, pp. 196-211, International Conference on Evolutionary and Biologically Inspired Music, Sound, Art and Design 2023, Brno, Czechia, 12/04/23. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29956-8_13

Is writing prompts really making art? / McCormack, Jon ; Cruz Gambardella, Camilo; Rajcic, Nina et al.
12th International Conference, EvoMUSART 2023 Held as Part of EvoStar 2023 Brno, Czech Republic, April 12–14, 2023 Proceedings. ed. / Colin Johnson; Nereida Rodríguez-Fernández; Sérgio M. Rebelo. Cham Switzerland: Springer, 2023. p. 196-211 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 13988).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research › peer-review