Ed Newton-Rex, CEO of Fairly Trained, has questioned Christie’s for auctioning AI-generated artworks that may harm traditional artists by appropriating their work, often resulting in substantial profits for the auction house. His concerns were directed towards Christie’s digital art specialists, Nicole Sales Giles and Sebastian Sanchez. In response, Christie’s defended the auction, stating that the participating artists possess robust multidisciplinary practices and are recognised in prestigious museum collections, enhancing their works with AI.
Artist Sarp Kerem Yavuz, whose AI-influenced pieces are in the sale, has countered the notion that AI art constitutes theft, explaining that these images derive from an amalgamation of millions of existing images, making it impossible for any single creator to claim ownership of basic concepts or motifs like meadows or cats. He insists that AI art processes human creativity more efficiently.
As AI continues to evolve and infiltrate everyday life, laws around copyright and fair use are struggling to adapt. Recently, the US Copyright Office declared that while artists can copyright their AI-assisted works, entirely AI-generated content lacks copyright protection, highlighting ongoing tensions in the art world regarding the implications of generative AI technology.