From Human Hands to Algorithmic Minds: WHATIF Machines Become Collaborators in Artistic Creation?

The nature of consciousness remains a central debate in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science, with no unanimous definition or understanding of its essence. At its core, consciousness involves the first-person experience of sensory perception, thoughts, feelings, and other mental states- the subjective awareness of “what it is like” to have a particular experience.

Conceptualisation, the ability to form mental representations of abstract ideas, plays a pivotal role in translating creative visions into tangible works. Artist's assistants and ghost writers are established practices showing how artistic creation often transcends sole authorship, with conscious collaborators realising another’s vision. Meanwhile, the recent advent of AI-based tools capable of generating art or responding to prompts has led to a new debate - whether these approaches are mere tools, or true collaborators complementing (or even replacing) human creative input?

This essay blends narrative storytelling and academic inquiry, utilising a dialogue between Achilles and Tortoise, iconic figures from Zeno’s paradox - a well-known philosophical thought experiment that challenges our understanding of motion and infinity- to examine phenomena such as algorithm aversion, appreciation, and AI’s impact on authorship. If conceptualisation is central to artistic creation, does it matter whether authorship and creative input gets delivered by an artist’s assistant or by AI? Long accepted in artistic endeavours, an assistant serves as a touchstone, much like AI-assisted art, both relying on non-primary creators to bring a vision to life. Yet, AI raises additional questions: Can “an algorithm” act as a true collaborator? Does its lack of consciousness undermine its creative output, or could its precision give rise to new forms of art?

Drawing from different research strands and playful examples, this essay raises critical questions about creativity, authorship, and technology’s impact on artistic creation. While empirical data is yet to be collected, the discussion aims to stir debate on whether AI diminishes the essence of artistic vision, or instead offers opportunities for extending the boundaries of creative potential?

ChatGPT version 3.5 “as a collaborator” for writing poems