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goker

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AI Writes the Code, But Who's the Artist? Lessons from Generative Art

When an AI generates a significant portion of your application, who truly "developed" it? This isn't a new dilemma – generative artists faced similar questions about authorship when their algorithms created art.

I've been diving into the fascinating parallels between generative art and the world of "generative code". It's less about who holds the brush (or types the line) and more about who crafts the vision, orchestrates the system, and curates the output. Our "signature" as coders is evolving.

Want to explore how our role is shifting from syntax masters to narrative architects in this AI-driven landscape?

Dive into the full article on my blog: https://goker.me/generative-code-who-is-the-artist

How do you see authorship and creativity changing with generative code tools?

Top comments (4)

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nathan_tarbert profile image
Nathan Tarbert

pretty cool seeing how roles keep changing like this, always makes me wonder if anyone will care who made a thing or just how good it is long-term, you think the artist even matters as much as the vibe they bring now?

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gokerdev profile image
goker

Great question, Nathan! It's a gray area, for sure. Long-term, how good it is and the 'vibe' are what really count.

But even if the 'artist aura' isn't the same, the coder is still the crafter making the AI deliver that. That skill in guiding it clearly and shaping the outcome? That's what makes the piece, and that craft deserves its rep.

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dotallio profile image
Dotallio

I feel like picking the right prompts and curating results is already a creative act in itself. Do you think AI will ever actually shape original 'vision', or is that still ours to define?

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gokerdev profile image
goker

Hey Dotallio, great point! Picking prompts and curating results is definitely a creative act.

Art's been there before – think Dadaism, where the idea and selection became the art. We as coders also accept our code becoming binary via compilers; our contribution is still key.

To your question about AI shaping original vision: For now, the core vision – the 'why' and the initial strategic intent – feels distinctly human. However, AI is an incredibly powerful and often surprising partner in how that vision comes to life. It can accelerate the 'how' massively, and sometimes even suggest novel paths or unexpected creative avenues that enrich our original idea, helping us realize it in ways we might not have conceived alone.

It's like an idea is a seed we plant. As Generative Coders, we're the gardeners shaping its growth with AI's help. Is the final tree owned by the gardener, the soil, or just the earth? A cool thought, and why I love open source!