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The Latest in AI Art

Since our first issue on AI in January, developments in AI have only continued to accelerate. And while there has been much discussion around AI's disruptive capabilities, the advancements in AI art tools have continued to spark the most thought-provoking conversations about what it means to be human — in an age where technology is blurring the line between man and machine.

This week, we help you get caught up on the latest development in AI art tools, and how AI can help to take your creative work to the next level.

Let’s get started.

4 AI Tools that Everyone Should be Experimenting With

If you aren’t experimenting with AI tools on a regular basis, there is a high chance you could be missing out in taking your artistic practice to the next level.

#1: GPT-4 for text

While GPT-3 has been a game-changer in the field of artificial intelligence, its successor, GPT-4, promises to take things to the next level. One of the key areas where GPT-4 is expected to outperform its predecessor is in its ability to understand and generate language more accurately and efficiently.

With improved training algorithms and larger training datasets, GPT-4 is expected to have a better understanding of context, tone, and language nuances, allowing it to generate more human-like responses.

In fact, last week, we also demonstrated the power of ChatGPT in helping artists rewrite their artist bio. One prompt you could experiment with is:

Our Recommended Tool: 100 ChatGPT Prompts for Creators

#2: Midjourney v5 for images

Midjourney is one of the most advanced generative design tools available today, and its latest iteration, version 5, has already made a massive impact. One of the key areas where Midjourney v5 is expected to outperform its predecessor is in its ability to generate more complex and varied designs.

With new training algorithms and a larger training dataset, Midjourney v5 is expected to have a better understanding of design elements, which helps it to create more intricate and visually appealing designs. Additionally, Midjourney v5 features an improved user interface, making it easier for designers to navigate and experiment with different design options.

Our Recommended Tool: The Ultimate Guide to Midjourney v5

#3: RunwayML Gen2 for videos

RunwayML's text-to-video generator is a groundbreaking innovation in the field of artificial intelligence and creative expression. This tool allows users to input text, and the AI algorithm generates a unique video that corresponds to the text's meaning and sentiment.

What makes this technology so innovative is the level of creative control it provides to users. By manipulating the text input, users can create videos that range from humorous to somber, and from realistic to abstract.

This technology opens up new possibilities for creative expression and storytelling — allowing artists, filmmakers, and designers to explore new realms of imagination and bring their ideas to life in a completely new way.

Using GPT4, Midjourney, Runway Gen2, Eleven Labs, and SOUNDRAW, AI enthusiast @Pizza_Later created a horrifying fake commercial for a pizza restaurant generated only from a few prompts. Surreal experiment or terrifying look at what's to come?

Our Recommended Tool: Download RunwayML via the app store to start experimenting now.

#4: Resemble for audio

Resemble.ai is a unique creative tool for AI because of its ability to generate realistic human-like voices with just a few clicks. With this tool, users can create voiceovers for videos, audiobooks, and podcasts, and even use the generated voices for virtual assistants or chatbots.

What sets Resemble.ai apart from other voice generators is its level of customization. Users can choose from a wide range of voices and languages, adjust the voice's pitch, speed, and tone to match the intended audience and the content's mood.

Our Recommended Tool: How to use Resemble.ai to create your own AI-generated song, like Ghostwriter977 did with Drake and the Weeknd.

3 Content Creators to Follow in AI

One of the most exciting aspects of this space to witness is how thought leaders are emerging before our very eyes.

Here are some individuals that we recommend following to not only stay on top of the latest developments in AI, but also inspire further experimentation.

#1: Aakash Gupta

Aakash recaps the wildest and most critical developments in AI weekly. Check out one of his recaps below.

#2: Claire Silver

AI artist Claire Silver is a huge advocate for emerging artists both within and outside AI, and regularly hosts contests and shares resources to help new artists embrace this exciting field.

#3: Nick St. Pierre

Nick regularly shares the prompts he uses for Midjourney, as well as tutorials for improving upon his outputs.

The Future of AI Art

Over the past several months, we have seen AI-generated creations fool panels and win awards in art competitions. In fact, just last month, we saw artist Boris Eldagsen win a Sony World Photography Award for a piece generated by AI. He later declined the award.

What’s important for us to realize is that despite AI being an excellent tool to expand upon our artistic practice, it is also essential to remember that it is still a tool. These words from tech prophet Kevin Kelly from his latest article What AI Generated Art Really Means for Human Creativity, are worth remembering:

So as much as AI can help to generate new ideas and automate tasks, it cannot replace the human element of creativity. It also remains crucial for artists to maintain their unique creative vision and lean on AI primarily as a tool to enhance and expand their work.

AI art is undoubtedly here to stay. Just look at the success of BrainDrops, one of the pioneering platforms dedicated to showcasing and promoting AI art. Earlier this year, it reached over $20M in secondary sales, and remains well-known for a number of seminal AI art collections, such as Gene Kogan’s Brain Loops.

Closing Thoughts

Art has always been a reflection of the world around us, and AI-generated art is no different. Innovation comes from breaking the rules, and artists are often at the forefront of that innovation. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible with AI, we can create new and exciting works that challenge our perceptions of art and technology.

Want to learn more? Join us on Thursday as we talk to Justin Trimble, co-founder of BrainDrops, about the future of the platform and how it is playing a role in elevating the role of AI art. We will subsequently be joined by leading AI artist Gene Kogan, who is currently working on creating an artist in the cloud.

In the News

Industry News

• Art auction house Sotheby’s has just launched a new secondary NFT marketplace that honors artist royalties and will showcase a rotating selection of high-profile Web3 artists curated by Sotheby’s specialists, starting with artists like Tyler Hobbs, Claire Silver and more.

• Amazon’s NFT marketplace is set to open on May 15, and will enable customers to buy, sell, and trade NFTs, while also potentially having the option of receiving digital collectibles linked to physical goods.

• Async Art is releasing Dynamic Blueprints as a way to involve different artists and communities to collaborate in creating fun and interactive NFTs. Learn more about their first collection, Forever Supper, which HUG is also a part of.

Tools and Resources

• Curious about how you can effectively grow your business using innovative creator tools from Web2 to Web3? Register for a free webinar with strategies on how to deepen & expand your audience.

• Text to video AI tool RunwayML has announced the official launch of their iOS app. Learn more here.

• Learn how to create your own AI-generated audio tracks with Resemble through this guide here.

• Want to know what it’s like to be a full-time artist? HUG artist Saphera Peters opens up about her experience in this thread here.

Notable Creators

• Artist Alex Israel makes use of ChatGPT to pen the press release announcing his latest exhibition, Fins, at the Gagosian Gallery in Rome. We recommend using ChatGPT to assist you in writing your artist bio, as well as a curatorial statement if you are putting together an exhibit of your own.

• Visual artist Jeremy Cowart is attempting to make art history by creating Auras, a 10,000-piece NFT collection, live in front of a Nashville audience, in 20 minutes without generative code or software of any kind.

• Marvel Studios founder David Maisel announced the launch of a new digital art collection featuring artwork from his entertainment company, Mythos Studios, as well as the late American comic book artist Michael Turner.

• Musician Grimes (aka Claire Boucher) is inviting creators to use AI-generated versions of her voice to make new music, and has offered to split 50% of the royalties on any successful song created in this manner..

• AI artist Botto has made $3 million in revenue by automatically feeding prompts into an AI image generator and minting the image as an NFT. Every week, Botto generates between 4,000 to 8,000 images, which gets voted on by members of its Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), before it gets sold on SuperRare.

• Napoleon Dynamite star Jon Heder and Workaholics co-creator Dominic Russo are working on an NFT-enhanced animated series Space Junk in order to use Web3 as opposed to the traditional Hollywood approach to producing movies and TV series.

Artist Grants and Opportunities

• The Adobe Creative Residency program supports creators of visual digital work, offering grants of $500–$5,000 for either a portfolio project or a paid Adobe project commission. Learn more about the application process here.

• Get featured in the Daily Ralpha, a Web3 newsletter with a daily circulation of 75K. All you have to do is apply for your own HUG artist profile, and submit your interest here.

• Post your best work to Creatively every week, let the community vote, and stand a chance to win a $5,000 cash grant each month.

• The Stochastic Labs offers fully-sponsored residencies to engineers, artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs from around the world. Residencies include a private apartment at the mansion, co-working and/or dedicated work space, shop access, a $1,000 monthly stipend and a budget for materials. Applications are received on a rolling basis.

This Week’s Art Drops

• Maskerminds by Maria Faith Garcia (Collection of 400, 0.005 ETH): A collection of masked characters that is part of an art collecting game, which unlocks exclusive access and prizes when all 9 characters are collected.

• Enchanted Connections by Seungdo Hyun (Timed Open Edition, $20-25): A collection of 3 timed open edition pieces that celebrates the beauty of collaboration and the power of individual contributions through vibrant colors, bold strokes, and delicate details.

• Do You Like My Stripes? by Caroline Harroe Arts (Timed Open Edition, 0.013 ETH): A monochromatic piece that is inspired by Caroline living with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue disorder that affects the joints, skin, and blood vessels.

• The World is Quiet There by Holakanola (Timed Open Edition, $25): Indonesian artist Holakanola’s genesis collection on Nifty Gateway that features 3 animated artworks, which are influenced by folktales, fairytales, and fantasy.

• Perennial Pals by jprittee (Timed Open Edition, free for HUG Pass and Meta Angels holders): Commissioned as part of Meta Angels’ Adobe Artist-in-Residence program, Perennial Pals is a celebration of fun, florals, and friendship.

• Urban Conqueror by Ivan Beerkus (1/1, 0.4 ETH): Taken from Hong Kong, this work captures the spirit of the urban conqueror, who seeks to embrace the challenges of modern life with courage and determination, while never losing sight of the beauty and wonder of the world around us.

• cigarette daydreams by Joain (1/1, Open to Offer): A combination of AI and digital art that was created for the INDIGO exhibition opening on April 27th at NFT Factory, Paris.

• A Round of HUGs for the Table by Async Art (Open Edition, Free): Collect a round of hugs for the table as part of Async Art’s Forever Supper collection that uses dynamic blueprint NFTs to foster creative collaboration between various artists and communities.

Creator Spotlight: Jaime Derringer

Jaime Derringer is an artist exploring the relationship between art, music, and movement as well as emotion, memory, and texture.

She creates original physical and digital drawings, as well as NFT glitch artwork that she creates using a mixture of apps, software, AI, a MIDI controller, and a custom visual programming software algorithm.

Learn more about Jaime in her HUG Artist Profile or follow her directly on Twitter.

We asked Jaime, how has AI influenced the way you approach creating your art?