For generative AI to become an interesting art tool, we need much more control over the output. The slot-machine-like nature of pure text-to-image leaves too much to chance. Using the "Real-time Latent Consistency Model" that I'm using in the example here, is the first time I truly got a glimpse of a future where we'll be able to use our artistic skills and sensibility, to get control over AI image gen. Systems like these will never be able to match the quality or originality of a skilled artist, it won't surprise us in the same way an artist can. Things are a mess in terms of the training data these models are based on, and the questions about copyright concerns and about a time when everything will look the same are very valid. At some point capabilities like these will be embedded in photoshop, and anyone will be able to generate a pretty picture. But to create interesting designs, to tell original stories and to surprise us, we need creatives and artists with something on their mind. We'll be able to create immersive worlds, by making brush-strokes and sculpt marks, without needing to worry about all the dials, plugins, wires of our 3d and 2d tools today. I love to sculpt, I love to draw, and I love to explore new mediums and new ways to create. The Gen AI tools we have today are far from perfect, and things need to be steered in a better direction. For that we need artists to help point the way. Gen AI isn't going away.. it's too powerful and has the potential to allow us to tell stories like never before. Like all other big technological shifts, tech like this will come at a cost, but it will also open up new opportunities and empower a new generation of storytellers. I might be naive, but I believe that human ingenuity and creativity will persevere in this new world ♥️ #art #ai