AI and Vispo

Can we work with AI tools ethically?

Today I was playing around with Google Gemini, describing the alphabet in various guises and situations, tones and textures. It was fun. GG created some interesting and wildly misinterpreted images; however, and this is a big however, i understand that these AI art generators may be scraping the Internet to find art and therefore stealing it from its creators. This isn’t something I want to be part of.

For years, I’ve used tools to assist my writing and visual poetry, whether it is software such as Adobe products or cut up and remix engines, such as the Lazarus Corporation’s Cut up and Remixing Desk.

I’d like to be able to play with AI as tools, but not to supplant or steal the work of fellow artists. Visual poets and other artists, if you work with AI, can you tell me how you do it?

Image description: a pile of falling letter As falling into a blue puddle of degraded letters on a black background. Made with Google Gemini.

Image description: a trunk open with pastel chalk-like alphabet letters spilling out onto a wooden surface, generated from Google Gemini.