For those learning to create art, relying on Midjourney or other AI art generators as a reference can be a significant hindrance to their development. Here are several reasons why aspiring artists should avoid using AI-generated images as their primary reference material:
Undermining Foundational Skills
Bypassing the fundamentals: Learning art involves mastering principles like perspective, anatomy, color theory, and composition.[1][2] AI art often appears correct at a glance but can have subtle to major errors in these areas.[3][4] By referencing AI, learners may inadvertently pick up and internalize these flaws, hindering their understanding of the core tenets of art.[3]
Lack of underlying structure: AI-generated images are created through algorithms that mimic styles and patterns from vast datasets of existing images.[4] They often lack a true understanding of the underlying structure of objects, leading to inaccuracies in anatomy, perspective, and how light and shadow work.[3][4] An artist learning from these images will miss the crucial step of understanding how to construct a scene or figure from basic forms.
"Art-shaped junk food": One source describes AI art as being like "art-shaped junk food" because it is designed to look appealing on the surface without having any real substance or technical correctness to be studied.[3]
Stifling Personal Style and Creativity
Developing a unique voice: A crucial part of an artist's journey is developing their own unique style and voice.[5] Relying on AI-generated images can lead to a derivative style, as the AI itself is creating a "remix" of other artists' work.[3]
Lack of emotional depth: Art is a form of human expression, often conveying deep emotions and personal experiences.[6][7] AI, being a machine, cannot replicate genuine human emotion, and the art it produces can lack this essential quality.[6] Aspiring artists who reference AI may struggle to infuse their own work with personal meaning and connection.
The illusion of inspiration: While some argue that AI can be a tool for inspiration, others contend that it's a "blender full of cliches" that recycles predictable tropes.[3] True creativity often comes from observation of the real world, personal experiences, and a deep understanding of art history, not from algorithmically generated images.
Ethical and Copyright Concerns
Copyright infringement: Many AI art generators are trained on vast datasets of images scraped from the internet without the permission of the original artists.[4][8][9] Using AI art as a reference can, therefore, be seen as a form of plagiarism or benefiting from stolen work.[4][10]
Devaluation of human artists: The proliferation of AI art raises concerns about the devaluation of the skill, time, and effort that human artists invest in their work.[8][11] By choosing to learn from and use AI art, aspiring artists may inadvertently contribute to a system that undermines their own future profession.
The Inaccuracies and Limitations of AI
Anatomical and logical errors: AI-generated images are notorious for having strange and incorrect details, such as people with the wrong number of fingers, limbs in impossible positions, or objects that defy the laws of physics.[3][4] While these errors are becoming less frequent, the underlying lack of understanding remains.
Inability to replicate nuance: AI struggles with the subtle nuances of human expression, body language, and context.[12] An artist needs to understand these subtleties to create compelling and believable work.
A "dead machine": Some argue that AI art is "boring" because it lacks the intentionality and unique perspective of a human creator.[13] The most interesting aspects of AI art are often its mistakes, which highlight its non-human origin.
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