Interview with Kate Whyles on AI in the arts, April 2026
1. How would you define or describe artificial intelligence in your own words?
I like to describe AI as a digital mirror of collective human knowledge. Imagine having read every book and seen every painting ever digitised, AI is the ability to use those patterns to predict what comes next
2. From talking with you about your practice, it is clear that you consider AI-generated creations to be art. Can you explain why you are drawn to this medium, please?
This medium fascinates me as I believe it removes the physical barrier between "having an idea" and "seeing it. For me, the beauty lies in the unexpected and using AI strengthens my futurist outlook on my practice.
3. Who do you think should be credited as the creator of an AI artwork?
The credit belongs to the human artist. The human provides the intent, the curation, and the emotional context. The AI provides the vessel.
4. How has AI influenced your creative processes and outcomes?
I appreciate the quick results that AI provides me. Often, these are unexpected and inspire new ideas. I see it as a valuable soundboard for the thought process that is so important when creating something I'm happy with.
6. What ethical considerations do you think arise in AI-generated art?
The main concerns are data ownership and consent. Unfortunately, many models were trained on large collections of art without the artists' permission. There's also a risk of "style theft," where a model could imitate a living artist's unique style, which could harm their income.
7. How do you think AI will impact the role of human artists in the next 10 years?
Human artists won't be replaced, but their roles will change. The personal touch in art will become more important, focusing on the story, craftsmanship, and the reasons behind each piece. It's similar to how Photoshop changed things for digital artists in the 1990s.
8. What excites you most about the integration of AI and art?
It allows for "impossible" art that challenges our perception of reality.
9. What concerns you most about the integration of AI and art?
I'm concerned that if making art becomes too easy, we might stop appreciating the time and effort it takes to create meaningful work. I'm also worried about the "dead internet theory," which says the web could get filled with low-quality, AI-generated content that looks the same, reducing the value of real creativity.
10. Is there anything else you would like to share about your views on AI and creativity?
AI is just the newest voice in creative expression. The most exciting art of the future won't be "Human vs. AI," but "Human + AI" using this technology to push the boundaries of what we thought was possible. I believe it opens up the imagination in a way that we haven't seen before and enables the artist to see that anything is possible.
