The double-edged sword of Artificial Intelligence

by Mary Harrsch © 2025

I found this general article describing how people are using AI or are being forced out of their creative occupations because of AI quite interesting.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/15/its-happening-fast-creative-workers-and-professionals-share-their-fears-and-hopes-about-the-rise-of-ai

AI-generated image courtesy of inpixio.com

I identified with the university researcher in Stockholm who pointed out, "...the tool is helpful for summarizing literature and brainstorming research questions.

“It knows a little about a lot – it knows other things people have done that I have no clue about,” allowing him to research those topics in greater depth, he said.

As a creative, though, I also empathize with some of the illustrators and graphic artists who find their work no longer in demand because of the rise of generative art. As a photographer, I saw this decline first hand with the advent of digital photography and the integration of cameras into everyone's cell phones. Suddenly, there was a huge increase in available images and demand for professional photographers, except for product, portrait or wedding photography, dropped dramatically. Publishers needing documentary photography started turning to Wikimedia Commons or offering independent photographers such small amounts for their work it wouldn't scratch the cost of travel, software investment, or editing time. Fortunately, for me, I had a full time job in academia, so this transition only meant a loss of supplemental income, not my primary source of bread and butter.

I have very much enjoyed experimenting with generative image software, though. I have an image of wisteria I photographed at Claude Monet's gardens in Giverny, France hanging over my bed but before I printed it on canvas, I used generative software to add a little yellow-and-black butterfly to the image right where I wanted it. Likewise, I photographed Newport Bay (Oregon) then replaced a typically gray Oregon sky with a colorful sunrise and used generative fill to add the silhouette of a seagull right where I wanted it without having to mask or collage multiple images to obtain the effect I wanted.

I continue to use AI-enhanced software on a daily basis for research and to improve or add effects to my images. Of course, now that I'm retired and no longer struggling with the need to earn enough money to provide for a growing family or paying for college tuition, I upload my own images for free use on Wikimedia Commons in the hope they will be useful for teachers and students in the future long after I am gone.