(There’s a new image below following the text!)

Generative image AI works by analyzing millions of images and organizing them in a network. It assigns probabilities to different elements and relationships. When given a prompt, the AI uses this network to create an image related to the prompt. However, AI-generated content may not always be accurate or unbiased.

The irony in almost all A.I. systems is that while we generally know how it works, we don’t really understand why it works. But I think it’s fair to say that the A.I. searches its network for elements and connections that address the instructions provided in a prompt. Is this creative? Is it an example of real imagination? Perhaps not in the strictest human sense, but consider.

When it comes to creating art, like painting, there are different ways to be creative. If you’re new to painting, it’s common to start by copying others. But as you gain experience, you learn about colors, shapes, and textures. You also get inspiration from your own memories and the work of other artists. We store all of this information in your brain, forming a network of knowledge that helps you create.

When I paint, I gather information from my brain and use it to create my artwork. Similarly, AI uses its network of connections to generate content. This suggests that AI and our brains may share some understanding of creativity.

Comments welcome? What do you think?

Can’t have a blog post without an image. Here is a recent A.I. generated image.

I should be more or less routinely supplying the prompt for A.I. generated images. The prompt for this country scene in autumn is “a photorealistic image of a country scene in autumn, with a lake, and a family having a picnic alongside the lake, natural midafternoon light,lens 50mm f16 –ar 3:2 –s 200“