While AI ethics involve establishing a set of principles that will prevent unfair outcomes, ethical AI art is all about creating and using AI art tools responsibly. Today, many artists have raised concerns around the use of their images to generate new artworks, implying issue of copyright infringement. Other issues include careful consideration around compensation for the artists, transparency in the creative process, and trust with the collectors. Although there are various issues that often arise in ethical conversations surrounding AI use in the art world, several approaches aim to find a solution for each challenge.

Copyright Infringement

The release of AI image generators such as Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and DALL-E has marked a turning point for artificial intelligence, opening wide possibilities for that technology in art. These tools are built on AI models that are trained on large datasets of pictures retrieved from Internet. The models can quickly apply what they have learned in one context to another, generating images based on specific prompts. Yet this process is regularly done without obtaining consent from artists, some of whom may have passed away, leading to complaints that AI models are profiting from unlicensed work. Some artists have filed lawsuits alleging that AI tools have mimicked their style to their economic detriment. As AI-generated art gains popularity, it is essential to define legislation and regulations regarding the use of copyrighted material in training AI models in order to provide a legal framework for artists.

Artist Compensation

A persistent perception around artificial intelligence is related to job loss or missing income. Indeed, a major ethical dilemma is ensuring fair compensation for content creators, especially when their work is used to train AI models that may eventually replace the demand for their services. Uncredited artists will find themselves without additional revenue from their original work. One solution could be the adoption of AI platforms such as Adobe Firefly, which license content legally and offer compensation or royalties to contributing artists. Conversely, AI-generated artworks have the potential to complement and enhance traditional art forms, rather than replace them. Integrating AI as a tool would allow artists to explore new techniques and accelerate their creative process by automating repetitive tasks. Some researchers have collaborated with artists to develop tools that disrupt the deep learning process by adding noise to their images, making them harder to use as unauthorized training data.

Algorithmic Bias

In some cases, AI models are trained on vast unverified datasets, which may contain significant biases or inaccuracies that could be reflected in the generated artwork. If the trained datasets contain imbalanced representations or societal biases such as stereotypes related to race, gender, age, or religion, the AI output will likely perpetuate and amplify those biases. How can artists protect their work from such stereotypes when training datasets may be subject to bias? In theory, they must be aware of these potential issues and strive to create inclusive and representative AI-generated art. Cultural or historical biases can be mitigated at the source by ensuring developers are using diverse and comprehensive datasets. Furthermore, making AI tools accessible to a larger audience would allow individuals with diverse background and skills to contribute in creating more inclusive artworks.

Transparency

With the adoption of AI-generated art, artists who deliberately use AI to create their artworks could face questions of authorship and ownership.  In a commercial or professional context, there is an ethical need to be transparent about the role of AI in the creation process, as the value of traditional art versus artificial art can differ in the marketplace. It is important to clearly communicate when AI has been used to generate or significantly alter an image. This helps build trust and maintain the creative integrity. In 2023, a German photographer declined his prize after winning the Sony World Photography Award with an AI generated image. Recognizing both human and artificial contributions can help address concerns about authenticity and artistic value. In addition, establishing clear guidelines and agreements around authorship and ownership is crucial to protect the artist rights and the curator interests.

Deception

AI tools could be used to create misleading content or manipulate images, which would negatively impact people's reputation. Indeed, these tools accelerate the production of highly realistic images which makes it easier to create deepfakes. In the wrong hands, they can be used to commit fraud, spread disinformation, or create defamatory content such as fake political ads. The creation of fake images depicting public figures or events can cause real damage. It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between authentic and synthetic media, which is generating a general distrust of certain media. When their use is controlled, deepfakes could produce a positive impact in various areas. For example, technologists could animate characters from famous artworks, create videos of historical figures and events which could not have been filmed in their time, embody individuals in the name of art and creativity, and help identify art forgery of renowned painters.