Civitai AiR Roundtable Vol. 1

Civitai
22 Aug 202464:05

TLDRWelcome to the first Cittai AiR Roundtable session, an engaging discussion with artists from the Cittai Artist in Residence program. The session showcases the diverse ways AI is integrated into their creative processes, from enhancing traditional art forms to exploring new digital frontiers. The artists share their experiences, challenges, and the exciting potential of AI in art, emphasizing the importance of ideas and the creative journey from concept to creation.

Takeaways

  • 😀 The video introduces the Citia AiR Roundtable, a discussion platform for the generative AI art community.
  • 🎨 The Citia AiR (Artist in Residence) program has been active for about seven months, fostering a community for artists to explore generative AI in their work.
  • 🌟 Chris, the director of the Citia AiR program, explains that the program serves as an incubator for creative exploration of generative AI, aiming to integrate AI into existing studio practices.
  • 👩‍🎨 Artists from various backgrounds, including sculptors, painters, and digital artists, share their experiences and projects within the AiR program.
  • 📈 The AiR program encourages artists to experiment with AI tools, even if they are new to the technology, to enhance their creative process.
  • 🤖 AI is presented as a collaborative tool that can generate ideas and push the boundaries of traditional art forms.
  • 🖼️ Artists discuss their individual projects, ranging from using AI to find fossils for artwork to creating digital collages and 3D models.
  • 🔍 The roundtable highlights the importance of the initial idea or concept in art, which is crucial even when using AI to generate artwork.
  • 🌐 The discussion underscores the value of community and shared learning in navigating the complexities of AI integration in art.
  • 🔗 The artists' work and processes can be followed on Citia's website and social media, showcasing the evolution of their projects within the AiR program.
  • 🔮 The session concludes with a focus on the importance of ideas in art, suggesting that as AI becomes more accessible, originality in concepts will be the key differentiator.

Q & A

  • What is the purpose of the Civitai AiR Roundtable session?

    -The purpose of the Civitai AiR Roundtable session is to discuss the individual projects of the artists involved in the program, exchange feedback, and share insights on the creative ways they are using generative AI technology.

  • How long has the Civitai AiR program been active?

    -The Civitai AiR program has been active for about seven months at the time of the roundtable session.

  • What is the role of Chris in the Civitai AiR program?

    -Chris is the director of the Civitai AiR program, which serves as an incubator and digital studio for the creative exploration of generative AI, aiming to investigate new techniques, applications, and concepts.

  • What was Iness's experience with AI before joining the Civitai AiR program?

    -Inness had limited experience with AI before joining the Civitai AiR program, having only started three weeks prior to the roundtable session.

  • What is Jason Baylor Lash's background as an artist?

    -Jason Baylor Lash is a sculptor and a painter who joined the Civitai AiR program about two months before the roundtable session. His experience with AI was relatively limited before the program.

  • What is Keon Copper's unique approach to art?

    -Keon Copper is a painter and poet from Brooklyn, New York, who focuses on painting and considers himself a self-proclaimed archaeologist and paleontologist, combining his interest in fossils with his artwork.

  • What is the significance of the term 'AI native' in the context of the Civitai AiR program?

    -The term 'AI native' refers to artists who are well-versed in AI technology. The Civitai AiR program does not require artists to be AI natives to join, as it aims to integrate AI into existing studio practices.

  • How does the Civitai AiR program facilitate the use of AI in artists' work?

    -The Civitai AiR program facilitates the use of AI by providing artists with the tools and support to integrate AI into their work, helping them to explore new techniques and break new aesthetic ground.

  • What is the role of the community in the Civitai AiR program?

    -The community in the Civitai AiR program plays a crucial role in providing feedback, inspiration, and support to the artists as they explore and develop their projects using AI technology.

  • How does the Civitai AiR program differ from traditional artist residency programs?

    -The Civitai AiR program differs from traditional artist residency programs by being completely remote, allowing participation from artists worldwide, and focusing specifically on the creative exploration of generative AI.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to the Generative AI Art Community

The video script opens with an introduction to the Generative AI art community hosted on citi.com. The speaker encourages viewers to like and subscribe to support the channel's high-quality AI community content. The session is a special Friday civetti air Roundtable, a new series featuring artists from the civi air program, which is an artist residence initiative that has been active for about seven months. The program's director, Chris, explains that it serves as a digital studio incubator for artists worldwide to explore generative AI and integrate it into their studio practices, regardless of their AI expertise.

05:02

👥 Artist Introductions and AI Experiences

The script continues with introductions from various artists involved in the civi air program. Iness, who joined three weeks prior, is based in LA and new to AI. Jason Baylor Lash, a sculptor and painter, joined over two months ago and has been learning about AI within the program. Keon Copper, a 27-year-old painter and poet from Brooklyn, is focusing on painting and incorporates his interest in archaeology and paleontology into his work. An, a digital artist from Paris with 15 years of experience, has been exploring the physical manifestation of digital art. Ira Greenberg, a professor with nearly 30 years in digital art, discusses his extensive background, his involvement with the early processing movement, and his current interest in AI and blockchain technologies.

10:03

🛠️ AI Implementation and Artistic Practice

The discussion shifts to how AI is being implemented in the artists' practices. Chris initiates a conversation about the transition from traditional art to AI integration. Jason shares his journey from portrait painter to sculptor, using AI to create compositions for his paintings. Keon discusses his goal of creating an AI fossil finder, while Iness talks about his experience in the program's early stages. An and Ira also share their insights, with An focusing on the conceptual framework of AI tools and Ira discussing his work with startups and blockchain, as well as his deep dive into Comfy UI during the residency.

15:04

🤖 Exploring AI Tools and Artistic Expression

The artists delve into their experiences with AI tools and how they influence their creative process. Ira discusses his generative and emergent approach to art, using AI to create images and integrate them with physical materials. He also touches on the tension between digital and physical aspects of his work. An shares his process of taking images made with an experimental model and turning them into physical objects, exploring different materials and methods. The conversation highlights the experimental nature of AI in art and the unique paths each artist is forging with the technology.

20:05

🔮 Future Directions and Collaborative Opportunities

The script concludes with a forward-looking perspective on the artists' projects and the potential for collaboration. Ideas such as creating plush toys, 3D prints, and even bronze sculptures are discussed, along with the possibility of incorporating AR-activated masks. The artists consider how to make their work accessible to different audiences, from traditional art collectors to those who might appreciate more affordable items like T-shirts or pins. The conversation also hints at the potential for creating NFTs and the importance of satisfying collectors while remaining inclusive.

25:08

🎭 Artistic Evolution and Community Building

The final paragraph reflects on the importance of the initial artistic idea and the role of AI as a tool to explore and express it. The artists emphasize the value of their unique experiences in shaping their ideas and the necessity of cultivating those ideas alongside their technical skills. The conversation highlights the significance of community, sharing, and communication in the evolution of their work. The artists encourage viewers to follow their work on social media and look forward to future interactions and collaborations within the AI art community.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Civitai AiR

Civitai AiR refers to the artist residency program hosted by Citi.com, which is focused on generative AI art. It serves as an incubator and digital studio for artists to explore and integrate AI into their creative processes. The program aims to foster innovation by combining AI with traditional artistic techniques, as mentioned by Chris, the director of the Civitai AiR program, who discusses its goals and the variety of disciplines among its participants.

💡Generative AI

Generative AI is a subset of artificial intelligence that involves the creation of new content by AI algorithms, such as images, music, or text. In the context of the video, generative AI is the core technology that the artists in the Civitai AiR program are using to produce art. It is highlighted in the script through discussions about how the artists are exploring new techniques and applications of this technology in their work.

💡Artistic Exploration

Artistic exploration in the script refers to the process of artists investigating and experimenting with new methods and concepts in their work. The Civitai AiR program encourages this by providing a platform for artists to delve into the creative possibilities of generative AI. For example, artists like Keon and Iness discuss their experiences with AI as a new tool in their artistic practice.

💡AI Implementations

AI implementations in the video script denote the practical application of AI technologies in the artists' work. The artists, such as Jason and Keon, who are newer to AI, share their experiences of integrating AI into their art-making process. This term is used to describe the transition from traditional art forms to those augmented by AI.

💡Figma Board

A Figma board is a digital workspace where designers and artists can collaborate and showcase their work. In the script, artists are encouraged to share their Figma boards to discuss their projects and receive feedback. It is a tool that allows the Civitai AiR community to engage with each other's work in progress, as seen when Chris pulls up Ira's board.

💡Aesthetic Ground

Breaking new aesthetic ground implies pushing the boundaries of what is considered visually appealing or artistically innovative. The Civitai AiR program aims to do this by integrating AI into artists' studio practices, as mentioned by Chris. This concept is central to the program's mission to explore the convergence of AI and art.

💡Studio Practices

Studio practices refer to the methods, techniques, and routines that artists use in their creative process within their workspace, the studio. The script discusses how AI is being integrated into these practices, suggesting a transformation in how art is created and produced, as artists like Ira and Anz talk about their experiences with AI in their studios.

💡Digital Archaeologist

The term 'digital archaeologist' is used by Anz to describe his unique approach to art, which involves creating art with a focus on the past, much like an archaeologist. In the script, Anz discusses his work with AI to create art inspired by fossils and excavation sites, emphasizing the blend of old and new in his creative process.

💡AI Native

Being 'AI native' in the context of the video means having a background or deep understanding of AI technologies. Chris mentions that the Civitai AiR program is open to artists regardless of whether they are AI native, indicating that the program is inclusive of artists with varying levels of AI experience.

💡Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework in the video refers to the underlying ideas and theories that guide the artists' use of AI in their work. Ira discusses his interest in the conceptual aspects of AI and how it has led him to explore its integration with traditional art forms, reflecting on the philosophical implications of AI in art.

💡Stable Diffusion

Stable Diffusion is a specific type of AI model mentioned in the script that artists are exploring for its generative capabilities. Ira and others discuss their experiences working with this model, indicating its significance in the current landscape of AI art and its potential for creative expression.

💡AI Avatars

AI avatars are virtual representations of individuals, created using AI technologies. Jason mentions his previous work with AI avatars to promote his artwork, illustrating one way in which AI can be used in the art world beyond direct creation, such as for marketing and self-promotion.

💡NFTs

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are a type of digital asset associated with unique items on a blockchain. Ira discusses his involvement with a platform called 'emerging Properties' or 'mops' where they build AI tools to create generative AI with an optional code interface for minting NFTs, showing the intersection of AI, art, and blockchain technology.

💡Digital Studio

A digital studio in the context of the video is a virtual space where artists can create and experiment with digital art forms, including those generated through AI. The Civitai AiR program serves as such a studio, providing artists with the opportunity to explore generative AI without geographical limitations.

💡Artistic Incubator

An artistic incubator is a supportive environment that fosters the growth and development of artists and their work. The Civitai AiR program is described as an incubator for digital studio practices, aiming to nurture artists as they explore and integrate AI into their creative processes.

💡AI Tools

AI tools refer to the various software and applications that utilize artificial intelligence to assist in the creation of art. Throughout the script, artists discuss their use of different AI tools, such as Seeing AI and Speechify, to generate images, transform images into text or voice, and vice versa, as part of their artistic process.

💡Language Models

Language models in the video script are AI systems designed to understand, interpret, and generate human language. Anz discusses using large language models in her work, highlighting their role in creating art that reflects the uncertainties and mistranslations inherent in language, much like the black box nature of AI itself.

💡Black Box

The term 'black box' in the context of AI refers to systems where the internal processes are not fully understood or observable, despite the inputs and outputs being known. Anz uses this term to describe the unpredictable and mysterious nature of AI, which can lead to unexpected and creative outcomes in art.

💡Slippages and Mistranslations

Slippages and mistranslations are errors or deviations that occur when information is transferred or translated between different systems or languages. Anz is particularly interested in these occurrences in her work, as they represent the breakdowns in AI's understanding and the emergence of new meanings, as illustrated by her project with the Baba Yaga myth.

💡Cultural Translation

Cultural translation refers to the interpretation and adaptation of concepts, terms, or stories from one culture to another, which can lead to changes in meaning or understanding. The script mentions an example of a French dessert 'Île flottante' being translated literally to 'floating island,' demonstrating how cultural context influences translation.

💡AI and Language

The relationship between AI and language in the video is explored through the use of AI tools that process and generate language, leading to unique artistic creations. Anz's work with AI models that transform images into text and back to images again exemplifies how AI can manipulate and reinterpret language in novel ways.

💡Deepfake

A deepfake in the context of the video refers to the use of AI to create a synthetic version of a person's voice or image. Anz mentions creating a deepfake of her own voice to narrate her videos, demonstrating the blending of AI technology with artistic expression.

💡AI Training

AI training in the video script refers to the process of teaching AI models to recognize and generate content based on input data. Anz discusses her interest in reversing this process, where the viewer or user trains the AI through interaction, suggesting a more dynamic and participatory role for the audience in AI art.

Highlights

Introduction of the Cititai AiR Roundtable, a discussion platform for artists in the generative AI community.

Civitai AiR is an artist residency program that explores the integration of AI into various art forms.

Chris, the director of the Civitai AiR program, discusses the program's aim to break new aesthetic ground with AI.

Artists share their experiences, ranging from new AI users to those with over two years of experience.

The importance of the AI community in providing feedback and inspiration among artists is emphasized.

Artists discuss the process of integrating AI into their existing studio practices.

The role of AI as a tool for creative exploration rather than as the sole creator of art is highlighted.

The challenges and excitement of learning new AI tools and techniques are shared by the artists.

The impact of AI on traditional art forms, such as painting and sculpture, is explored.

Artists share their individual projects, from AI-generated sculptures to digital archaeology.

The potential of AI to streamline the creative process and generate new ideas is discussed.

The use of AI in creating unique and personalized art pieces is highlighted.

The ethical considerations of AI in art, such as originality and authorship, are briefly touched upon.

The role of AI in enhancing traditional artistic skills rather than replacing them is emphasized.

Artists share their thoughts on the future of AI in art and its potential to democratize creativity.

The importance of the artist's touch and the human element in AI-generated art is discussed.

The roundtable concludes with a reflection on the value of diverse perspectives in the AI art community.