What’s wrong with AI art? Implications of generative AI on the value of creative media

Evaluating creative media based on the type of creator (AI vs. human) offers fertile ground for theorising and deepening our understanding of human-AI interaction. Traditionally, creative works have been evaluated by the artistic value attributed to their creators. In media creation, AI can be seen as a valuable tool that enhances creators’ productivity and compensates for gaps in their abilities. However, AI can also be viewed as a mechanistic approach to media production, allowing large studios to create content with minimal artistic input. Drawing from prior literature, we theorise how the use of generative AI may impact the perceived value of art and the mechanisms by which this value is shaped. Building on Berlyne’s model of aesthetic experience, we show that the use of generative AI significantly influences appraisers’ perceptions of an artwork's complexity, thereby affecting its value. Interestingly, the type of creator did not affect the emotional response to the art. We discuss the implications of these findings.