How Does Midjourney Work? Exploring Ai Generated Art

The video discusses the controversial AI art generator, Midjourney, which has sparked a debate in the art community. The host, Timothy Von Fuddem, shares his initial skepticism but after trying it out, he provides a walkthrough of how Midjourney works. It uses keywords to create new images by referencing millions of photos online. The software is invite-only and operates through a Discord bot, allowing users to generate images by inputting descriptions and artist styles. The host highlights the ease of use and the potential of Midjourney as an inspiration tool for artists, while also addressing concerns about its impact on the art industry, including job displacement and copyright issues. He concludes that while AI-generated art is a powerful tool, traditional hand-drawn art will continue to be valued for its personal touch and the process behind its creation.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Midjourney is an AI art generator that has sparked debate in the art community, with some embracing it and others opposing it due to its potential impact on the traditional art process.
• 🖌️ AI generated art works by using automated photo bashing and manipulation based on keywords, creating new images by pulling from millions of sources online.
• 🚀 Midjourney is invite-only and offers a subscription model, allowing users to render a certain number of images and buy more renderings or a private Discord for generating ideas.
• 🤖 The software operates as a Discord bot, where users can input commands and receive generated images, often inspired by specific artists or styles.
• 🧩 Users can manipulate the generated images by choosing to upscale or create variations, leading to unique and interpretive results.
• 👀 Faces generated by Midjourney are often noticeably different, which can be a giveaway of AI-generated art.
• 🔍 The ease of creating art with AI has raised concerns about the future of traditional art and the value placed on the artistic process.
• 🤔 The art world is divided, with some seeing AI art generators as a threat to the artistry and others as a tool for inspiration and efficiency.
• 📉 There are fears that AI-generated art could replace jobs in concept art for character and environment artists in the entertainment industry.
• 📄 Copyright issues arise as AI art generators use existing art without permission, although it's likely to fall under fair use due to the transformative nature of the output.
• 🌟 Despite concerns, many artists find AI art generators like Midjourney to be a fascinating and inspiring tool for generating ideas and exploring new concepts.
• ✍️ The speaker uses Midjourney as a reference for shapes, compositions, and textures, finding it to be an effective tool for boosting creativity and efficiency in their traditional art process.

Q & A

What is the main topic of discussion in the provided transcript?

The main topic of discussion is AI-generated art, specifically focusing on the AI art generator Midjourney and its impact on the art world.

How does the AI art generator Midjourney work?

Midjourney works by using automated photo bashing and manipulation based on keywords input by the user. It pulls from millions of images across the internet to create something new yet familiar to the description provided.

What are some concerns raised by the speaker regarding AI-generated art?

The speaker raises concerns about AI-generated art potentially replacing human artists in concept art jobs, copyright issues due to the use of existing art without permission, and the question of whether AI-generated images can be considered 'art' in the traditional sense.

How does the speaker suggest using AI-generated art in the creative process?

The speaker suggests using AI-generated art as an inspiration generator, similar to creating a Pinterest board, but with images generated by the AI. It can be used for testing out different layouts, thumbnails, and exploring various styles and color palettes.

What was the initial reaction of the speaker towards AI-generated art?

The speaker's initial reaction was negative, feeling threatened by the software and concerned about it bypassing the journey of making art, potentially leading to hollow and empty visuals.

How has the speaker's perspective on AI-generated art evolved after using Midjourney?

After using Midjourney, the speaker found it to be a powerful and fun tool that can generate limitless ideas and inspiration. They began to see it as a valuable asset for artists, as long as it is used as a tool for inspiration rather than a replacement for the human creative process.

What are the three biggest concerns the speaker identifies about AI-generated art?

The three biggest concerns identified are: 1) the potential replacement of concept art jobs in the entertainment industry, 2) copyright issues and the lack of repercussions for using existing art without permission, and 3) the belief that AI-generated art may be killing the traditional concept of art.

How does the speaker redefine the value of art in the context of AI-generated art?

The speaker redefines the value of art as a combination of technical ability, creative and original aspects, and personal input that gives the art a soul. They believe that the process of making art is essential for showcasing these aspects.

What is the speaker's opinion on the future of traditional art in the face of AI-generated art?

The speaker believes that original, created art will stand out even more in contrast to AI-generated art and that there will always be an appreciation for the time, energy, and thought put into the process of art-making by a human.

How does the speaker describe the experience of using Midjourney?

The speaker describes the experience as fascinating, fun, and limitless. They found that it allowed them to work more quickly and confidently, using the generated images as a foundation for their own interpretations and creations.

What is the speaker's suggestion for artists who are worried about the impact of AI-generated art on their work?

The speaker suggests that artists should continue to focus on the human element of their work, the soul and personal input that goes into creating a piece. They believe that traditional hand-drawn art will still be appreciated for its uniqueness and the personal connection it offers.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to AI Art and Mid-Journey

The video begins with Timothy Von Riden, known as Vaughan, discussing the controversy surrounding AI-generated art, specifically the Mid-Journey tool. He shares his initial skepticism but also his curiosity, explaining that the tool has divided the art community. Vaughan introduces the concept of AI art as a form of automated photo manipulation based on user-inputted keywords. He demonstrates how Mid-Journey works, noting its invite-only status and subscription model. The video also features a time-lapse of Vaughan's art process, emphasizing his belief that showing the process is more engaging than just talking.

05:00

🤖 How Mid-Journey Functions and Its Impact

Vaughan explains the functionality of Mid-Journey, highlighting its speed and ease of use, which he finds both fascinating and concerning. He discusses the potential of AI art to replace human artists, especially in concept art for the entertainment industry, and the associated copyright issues. Vaughan also addresses the existential question of whether AI-generated images can be considered 'art', given the lack of human skill and personal input traditionally associated with artistic creation. He concludes that while AI art may not be art in the traditional sense, it can serve as a tool for inspiration.

10:01

🚀 The Role of AI Art in the Creative Process

Despite initial reservations, Vaughan explores the positive aspects of AI art generators like Mid-Journey. He found the tool to be a powerful source of inspiration, allowing for rapid generation of numerous ideas and concepts. Vaughan shares how using Mid-Journey has influenced his own art, making him bolder and faster in his work. He suggests that AI-generated art can be a valuable tool for artists, helping to streamline the creative process and providing a new way to engage with the artistic community.

15:02

🌟 The Future of AI Art and Traditional Art

Vaughan reflects on the potential future of AI art and its relationship with traditional art forms. He acknowledges the concerns of artists about job displacement and the value of original, hand-crafted art. However, he also notes the positive response to traditional art at recent shows, suggesting that there will always be an appreciation for the personal touch in art. Vaughan believes that AI art generators are powerful tools, but emphasizes that the role of the artist in creating something with 'soul' remains irreplaceable.

20:04

📢 Open Discussion and Closing Thoughts

The video concludes with Vaughan inviting viewers to share their thoughts on AI-generated art. He expresses his intention to continue discussing the topic and to monitor its development. Vaughan thanks his audience for their engagement and provides information on how to join his live streams for further conversation.

Keywords

💡AI Generated Art

AI Generated Art refers to the creation of visual art through artificial intelligence systems. These systems use algorithms to generate images based on a set of inputs or prompts provided by the user. In the video, the artist discusses the use of an AI art generator called Midjourney, which creates images from textual descriptions, and how it has sparked debate within the art community.

💡Midjourney

Midjourney is a specific AI art generator that the artist explores in the video. It is an invite-only software that uses keywords to create images, which can then be further manipulated by the user. The artist uses Midjourney to illustrate the broader concept of AI-generated art and its impact on the art world.

💡Automated Photo Bashing

Automated photo bashing is a technique where multiple images are combined or 'bashed' together to create a new image. In the context of AI art, this process is automated and done on a large scale, with the AI pulling from millions of images to generate something new, as mentioned in the video.

💡Discord Bot

A Discord bot is an application that operates within the Discord platform, which is primarily used for text, video, and audio communication. In the video, the artist describes Midjourney as a Discord bot that generates images based on user inputs, highlighting the software's unique interface and interaction method.

💡Upscaling and Variations

Upscaling in the context of AI art refers to the process of enhancing the resolution or detail of a generated image. Variations mean creating slightly altered versions of the original image. The artist in the video demonstrates how to upscale and create variations of AI-generated images using Midjourney.

💡Artistic Process

The artistic process involves the steps an artist takes to create a piece of art, from initial inspiration to the final work. The video discusses how AI-generated art might impact this process, as it can quickly produce images that might traditionally require significant time and effort.

💡Copyright Issues

Copyright issues arise when the use of another person's creative work is done without permission. In the context of AI art, there are concerns about whether the AI's use of existing images to generate new ones infringes on the original artists' rights. The video touches on this debate and the complexities of determining fair use in this scenario.

💡Fair Use

Fair use is a doctrine in copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission under certain circumstances, such as for commentary, criticism, or education. The artist discusses how AI-generated art might fall under fair use because the final images are significantly transformed from the originals.

💡Traditional Art

Traditional art refers to art forms that have been practiced for a long time and typically involve manual skills, such as drawing, painting, or sculpting. The video contrasts traditional art with AI-generated art, discussing concerns that the latter might diminish the value of the former.

💡Inspiration

Inspiration is the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. The artist in the video uses AI-generated images as a source of inspiration for their own work, demonstrating how AI can be a tool for sparking creativity rather than a replacement for human artists.

💡Art World

The art world encompasses the community and environment involved in the production, distribution, and exhibition of art. The video discusses how AI-generated art has divided the art world into those who embrace the technology and those who fear it will replace traditional artistic practices.

Highlights

Midjourney is an AI-generated art tool that has divided the art world into supporters and critics.

AI generators use keywords to create new images by pulling from millions of internet sources.

Midjourney is invite-only and offers a subscription model for extended use.

Users can submit prompts to the Midjourney Discord bot to generate images.

The process involves typing 'imagine' followed by a description and optional artist styles.

Midjourney generates four thumbnails, offering options to upscale or create variations.

The software is powerful yet raises concerns about the effort put into art making.

The ease of use is both fascinating and terrifying, with potential implications for the art industry.

Concerns include AI-generated art replacing jobs, copyright issues, and the essence of what constitutes art.

The debate over AI art's place in the art world is ongoing, with many questioning its value.

Midjourney's rules state that generated images are royalty-free for posting but owned by Midjourney.

The tool can be used for inspiration, speeding up the creative process and offering new interpretations.

The speaker found their workflow with traditional art changed after using Midjourney, becoming bolder and faster.

There is still a strong appreciation for traditional hand-drawn art, which stands out in contrast to AI-generated pieces.

The impact of AI art generators on the art world is a topic of concern and fascination.

The speaker will continue to share thoughts and observe the development of AI art in the coming months and years.