#though I don't think I will ever entertain the idea that ai art might be good things

[shayminsky]

"AI" art isn't bad because it's ugly much of real human art is ugly, and beauty is in the eye of beholder, and AI art keeps getting better and better, so using that as a reason to condemn "AI" art is not a good reason. "AI" art also isn't exclusively bad because it steals. That is an issue, but also not uniquely an issue with "AI" art. Humans steal and take inspiration from other artists all the time, and sure it's not entirely same, but it similar enough that it alone is not really that strong an argument.

But the fact that it lacks meaning, lacks human touch, is a good reason. Art is meaningful because it was made by someone. A tree struck by lightning and is burning from the inside is cool and pretty, but not art. Someone taking a photo of it can be art, because the act of capturing that moment gives it some meaning. If they add to it, a title, caption, whatever, it can have even more of a meaning. "AI" art is much like that. It only exists, and can look pretty, but it doesn't have meaning. Sure someone giving the piece a name can add some meaning, but I don't think it's quite the same, no one captured the moment, the moment was generated by whatever algorithm powers it. And so it isn't art, just is, just exist. It's empty.

Another excellent reason to dislike "AI" art is if it's used to replace actual human artists to cut costs or because it's easier to deal with or whatever. That's just scummy in general and unfortunately almost inevitable thanks to how capitalism functions

[recorting]

11/08/2022

Society had started collapsing. There was promise of safety, you had to download an up, go to an intensive orientation, and you'd be taken to a large oil rig, with an elevator that would take you to an underground bunker.

The orientation was held on the oil rig. You'd get to try one some new outfits, be introduced to the staff and the technology, new phones, vr, smart watches. The clothing was colourful and comfortable. You'd learn first aid, scuba diving, fire fighting, they said it was all just in case, they'd run regular safety breifings down in the bunker, but you shouldn't ever need to apply the skills, it's all just good to know. There was a couple in my orientation group, and some of their friends. They're excitingly chatting about getting married in the bunker. Hearing about the promise of their future. We had to wear special jumpsuits, and we were taken into a large industrial elevator to go down. A colourful welcome video played on the screens around us. About 3/4 down the elevator stops, it can only take us so far, we have to take stairs the rest of the way.

You could be safe there, but it was run by a dictator, and you had to conform to everything. There was already civil unrest by the time I arrived, and I didn't feel safe. You had curfews, and strict schedules planned for you. There was still entertainment, but it was incredibly manufactured, and all facilitated through their apps. Zero creativity.

One day I had snuck into a movie instead of my concert that was scheduled, and my reality started glitching. The movie theatre I was in would glitch between the movie and the concert. It really scared me so I ran out, and was immediately suspicious of the guards, disguised as just normal service workers. No one worked in this world, so who was running the theatre? Were they robots, captives? AI? Real at all? As I was running out they glitched more, movie theatre attendee, ticket vendor for the concert, food vendor, armed guard. I tried to remain cool, avoiding eye contact I walked back to my home, but I couldn't find it. It occured to me I had no idea how to navigate. We'd be escorted, and everything was so shiny and entertaining compared to the reality outside I don't think anyone had really noticed.

While wandering I came across a huddled group of people, they stood out, they weren't wearing the pristine fashions, they were muddled, and a bit dirty. They hadn't noticed me yet. I overheard them planning an attack, they wanted to escape. I remembered where they were planning to attack and tried to find them.

-----

So after a while the technology and the mundanity was failing, most people were ignorant to it, accepting the glitches and the increased security. Afterall it was still better than what waited for us outside. But some people started dissapearing.... Not that anyone ever seemed entirely genuine. But those people that started rocking up to golf in basketball clothes, or singing karaoke at an art gallery, I'd remember their face and then I'd never see them again. I don't feel safe.

Shit hits the fan, reality breaks, people rebel, people who don't want to accept that rebel against the people rebelling, all hell breaks loose. What's interesting though... The Guards and workers? Not acknowledging it at all. Maybe there were robots Afterall.

A small group of us forge a plan, we can escape. We start gathering materials, extra food, forged weapons, disguises, anything we might find useful. There are other groups doing the same, we tried forming an alliance but it was no good. We can't trust anyone.

We spend our time trying to avoid the other groups, working our way up the building. We have some fights, we know the signs of a booby trapped base. Were hiding out In a church when we are ambushed, they have crazy weapons, not many of us survive. I'm hiding in a coffesional, and I can see some of them. I have a gun, and I make a run for it, shooting a few of them. I manage to escape and try to regroup with my team, but I only come across a few of them. We have to keep going with the plan. When we're making our way to another level were ambushed by the leader of the group. He's a heavy set man, sweaty, dirty, and now covered in blood. I could have sworn I shot the bastard. He chases us, and a fight breaks out. He chases us to a dead end, where we open a door to a large room, with a small hole at the end that seemingly leaves to outside. But it's a huge drop, and we still have enough of our sanity about us to know we are deep, deep underground. The guy catches up, and as he's attacking us sees what's behind us. He pushes us aside, and we try to warn him. It's not real, you'll die. He doesn't care, sanity has left him, something has happened to him that his reality is so mixed. He jumps. We look away. It's just us now.

Were finally making progress. Were making our ways up some long long stairs. They seem familiar, so we think we should be making it to the elevator soon. When we get to the top there is a hallway, we don't remember this, but everything is little blurry. We open the door at the end, and were underneath a command centre, with some more stairs to take us to the top. We hear a small voice, and a lot of mechanical noises. We figure this is just as good as an exit, maybe we can find out who's behind this bullshit.

At the top of the stairs a person of small stature is waiting. Their face is scared in a similar way to Zuko from avatar. She seems almost like a child, but you can't be sure. Behind her is a large animal, surrounded by a sort of veil. It seems like she was expecting us, or heard us coming up the stairs. A fight breaks out, she's nimble and trained in martial arts. We barely win, something happens and the animal starts glitching like crazy, that distracts her and they both just, fly, hit the walls, everything goes quiet.

We search the command centre, find an evacuation tunnel, take it. Were at the surface, in a showroom actually, on a street. It doesn't appear like there are any doors, and every attempt to break the glass windows fails. Are we really still stuck? Were crying, and assessing what the fuck to do, when a latch open, and the roof opens up and someone is calling out. We look up, and see them, but before we know it the room around us is shaking and collapsing, and we sink back in further in the earth. Everything goes black.

----

I think I do wake up, and I'm in a cave system, there are all sorts of caves and tunnels with lights. I'm with a group of people, and they take us through one tunnel. Now every angle I look at is like a video game, and I don't seem to actually be walking anywhere.