Home Video Games Blog What is the AI Art Generator & Why the Art Industry is About to DIE

What is the AI Art Generator & Why the Art Industry is About to DIE

Eldar Kalinin

Game Designer at RetroStyle Games |

AI art generators are a revolutionary technology, they produce artwork based on textual descriptions provided by users. This innovation has expanded the boundaries of artistic creation, so professionals and amateurs can visualize concepts and ideas with ease and speed. 

However, the concept of AI art generators is not without its controversies. Some artists and designers have called for a boycott against the use of AI in creative processes, expressing concerns over copyright, originality, and the potential devaluation of human artistry.

Best AI Art Generator Platforms, ai generated cat character with references

Why AI art is good? The popularity of AI art generators has spread across various users, driven by their accessibility more than 30 billion images were generated using text-to-image algorithms in 2023 alone.

To contextualize this, it took photographers approximately 160 years, from the first photograph in 1826 until 1985, to produce an equivalent volume of images. This comparison, originally highlighted by Fstoppers, underscores the transformative impact of AI on image creation and distribution.

AI art generators are creating a new industry. They’re not only influencing traditional art. They’re also expanding into video game genres art and interactive media. These tools are being used more and more for designing characters and environments in games, with companies offering AI character design services for game development. While AI art generators have started discussions about the impact on artists’ jobs and the value of human creativity, they’ve also introduced new ways to innovate, especially in gaming. 

AI impact on game development, how AI is used in game development

How AI Art Generators Work

AI art generators –  what is it, and is it really art? They use machine learning and neural networks to create artwork. These generators operate on the principle of analyzing vast datasets of artistic works, learning patterns, styles, and techniques from these datasets, and then applying this learned knowledge to generate new, original pieces of art.

How do generated art work? AI art generation is neural networks, a type of machine learning inspired by the structure and function of the human brain. With the ability to generate large amounts of art these neural networks consist of layers of interconnected nodes or “neurons”, which process input data and can learn to recognize patterns over time. These neural networks are trained on thousands of artworks, effectively “studying” various artistic styles, compositions, and techniques. This training allows the AI to emulate these elements in new creations, making neural networks a kind of AI art algorithm that improves and refines its output with continued exposure to art.

An AI art example in action can be seen with Runway ML, a platform that exemplifies the innovative capabilities of this technology. One of Runway ML’s most celebrated features is its style transfer models, which allow users to apply artistic styles from famous paintings, photographs, or other images to their work. By selecting a style image and a content image, Runway ML’s interface facilitates the creation of visually striking compositions where the content of one image is blended with the style of another. How to use AI to generate art? We have insights into the process, offering tutorials and examples on using artificial intelligence to produce game art and beyond.

AI art generator example Runway ML, how to use AI to generate art

Features of AI Art Generators

AI art generators are sophisticated tools, these generators are equipped with features like rendering, generative AI algorithms, creative tools, interactive interfaces, and style-transferring capabilities that make them powerful tools for artists, designers, and hobbyists alike.

  • 1

    Realistic rendering

    AI visual art generators can produce images with a realism that was previously unattainable without extensive human effort. This is achieved through advanced rendering techniques that simulate light, shadow, texture, and materials in a way that mimics real-life objects and scenes. 

  • 2

    Generative AI algorithms

    As we've already realized, one of the aspects of AI generation for 2D and 3D game artists is that it can create art from written descriptions. This makes it easier for both experts and hobbyists to make art from simply a description. They can create new images based on the patterns, styles, and rules they have learned from extensive datasets of existing artwork. These algorithms enable the generation of unique art pieces that are inspired by, but not direct copies of, the input data they have been trained on. 

  • 3

    Creative tools

    AI art generators offer a suite of creative tools that allow users to customize and fine-tune their creations. These tools can include options for adjusting color schemes, modifying textures, altering composition, and much more.

AI art generators main features, AI generation for 2D and 3D game artists

Despite these advanced features, AI art generators currently face limitations with 3D models. They can make 2D images, but creating detailed and accurate 3D models remains a challenge.

For this, you’ll still have to hire an outsource art 3D modeling studio.

AI Art Process

How is AI generated art works? This process involves several key steps, like interpreting the initial input to rendering the final image. 

  • 1

    Step 1: Interpretation of text prompts

    First, you write the text (a prompt). This prompt can range from a simple description of a scene ("a sunny day at the beach") to a complex and detailed narrative. The AI then analyzes this prompt to understand the elements and concepts described.

  • 2

    Step 2: Conceptual understanding

    Once the text prompt is input, the AI art generator uses natural language processing (NLP) techniques to dissect and understand the prompt's components. It parses the prompt for descriptive elements, themes, emotions, and any specific instructions.

  • 3

    Step 3: Mapping concepts to visual elements

    After understanding the prompt, the AI maps these concepts to visual elements and utilize machine learning techniques. It selects colors, shapes, textures, and compositions that fit the described elements. The AI draws uses its extensive database of images and artistic styles learned during its training phase to find the best matches for the prompt's requirements.

  • 4

    Step 4: Generating the artwork

    With a clear map of what the artwork should do, the AI proceeds to generate the visual representation. This is done through generative machine learning models, such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) or Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), which create images by effectively "imagining" the described scene. This process can involve iterative refinement, where the AI adjusts various elements of the image to better align with the prompt.

  • 5

    Step 5: Rendering and refinement

    The initial image generated by the AI is often further refined to enhance details, adjust colors, and improve overall composition. It makes sure that the final artwork meets a certain quality standard and represents the initial prompt. The AI may adjust lighting, shadow, texture, and other visual aspects to achieve a more polished result.

  • 6

    Step 6: Delivery of the final artwork

    The final step in the creative process is the presentation of the artwork to the user. This can be a static image, a series of images, or even an animated sequence, depending on the capabilities of the AI art generator and the nature of the prompt.

Example of a text prompt:

“A photograph of an ancient stone castle, towering, with turrets and battlements, perched precariously on a rugged cliff. The cliff overlooks a turbulent sea, waves crashing fiercely against the rocks. Above, a starlit sky twinkles, with a large, luminous full moon casting a serene glow over the scene, highlighting the castle’s details and the frothy sea below. Created Using: High dynamic range photography, intricate stonework detail, atmospheric perspective, digital enhancement for moon glow, long exposure for sea motion, historical architecture, medieval fantasy, chiaroscuro lighting, enhanced moonlight reflection on the sea, glibatree prompt, vibrant star contrast, dramatic shadowing –ar 16:9”

Main steps of AI art process, AI art generator prompt example

Tested AI Software That Creates Art

DALL-E is an AI program developed by OpenAI, is one of the AI art tools that is designed to generate images from textual descriptions. It uses a sophisticated model to understand and interpret the input text and create highly detailed and diverse images that closely match the given descriptions. It can generate 2D game art or inspiration for game environments. 

DALL-E has gained recognition for its ability to combine concepts, styles, and elements in novel ways, producing creative and sometimes surreal artworks. This capability makes it a powerful tool for artists, designers, and anyone looking to explore the intersection of AI and creativity.

Pricing: It can be free. 

Premium (Monthly) for one person – $20 + ChatGPT
Premium (Monthly) for two or more people – $25 + ChatGPT

AI program by Open-AI DALL-E, DALL-E pricing, how to use DALL-E 2 to create AI images

WOMBO Dream is an AI art generator app that allows users to create artwork based on text prompts. By inputting a description or selecting a specific art style, users can generate unique images within seconds. WOMBO Dream utilizes AI algorithms to interpret the text and translate it into visually compelling pieces. It’s popular among social media users and digital artists for its user-friendly interface and the ability to quickly produce artwork for various purposes, ranging from entertainment to professional projects.

Pricing: 

Dream Premium (Monthly) – $9.99

Dream Premium (Yearly) – $89.99

AI program WOMBO Dream, WOMBO Dream pricing, WOMBO Dream main features

Lensa is an AI-powered photo editing application that offers a range of features, including portrait retouching, background replacement, and various artistic filters.

One of its notable features is the magic avatar creation, where it transforms selfies into stylized portraits in various art styles, including 2D pictures. The process of converting 2D images to 3D model AI is a more complex task that some AI tools are beginning to tackle. 

Pricing: offers a free version and a paid subscription plan – Lensa Premium. 

Lensa Premium (Monthly): $3.99.

Lensa Premium (Yearly): $19.99.

AI program Lensa, Lensa pricing, how to use Lensa AI app

AI ARTA appears to be less widely recognized compared to the other programs mentioned and might refer to a specific tool or platform focused on AI-generated art. It offers features similar to those of DALL-E, WOMBO Dream, or Lensa, such as generating artwork from text descriptions or applying AI-driven effects to images

Pricing: offer free trials with subsequent subscription fees for continued use or additional feature access.

Weekly subscription – $4.99, $6.99 or $7.99 depending on features.

AI program AI ARTA, AI ARTA pricing, how to create perfect AI game art with AI ARTA

Midjourney is an AI that transforms text into images, creating realistic pictures from just a simple description.It combines two AI technologies: language understanding and diffusion models. First, it understands your text, turning it into a numerical form. Then, using diffusion, where the AI practices adding and removing randomness from images, it learns to create entirely new pictures.

Pricing monthly:

  1. Basic – $10
  2. Standard – $30
  3. Pro – $60
  4. Mega – $120

 

Pricing monthly:

  1. Basic – $96 ($8 / month)
  2. Standard – $288 ($24 / month)
  3. Pro – $576 ($48 / month)
  4. Mega – $1152 ($96 / month)
AI program Midjourney, Midjourney pricing, how to generate insane AI art with Midjourney

Advantages of Using AI Art Generators

The use of AI art generators has gained traction for a multitude of reasons, the pros of AI art:

  • 1

    Experiment a lot

    AI art generators allow artists to experiment with styles and concepts beyond their traditional skill set or technical abilities. By providing new avenues for creativity, these tools can stimulate the imagination and inspire innovative ideas.

  • 2

    Save your time

    Creating detailed artwork traditionally can be time-consuming. AI generators can produce complex images in a fraction of the time, freeing up artists to focus on other aspects of their projects or to increase their output.

  • 3

    Quickly visualize ideas

    AI art generators can serve as tools for rapid concept development, helping artists visualize ideas and concepts quickly before committing to a final design.

Weaknesses of using AI Art generators

While AI art generators offer numerous advantages, there are also inherent weaknesses:

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    Lack of Uniqueness

    AI-generated art may lack the unique nuances and emotional depth often found in human-created artwork. The individual style and creative choices that characterize an artist’s work might not be as prominent in AI-generated pieces.

  • 2

    Ethical Implications

    There is ongoing debate regarding the ethical implications of using AI to replicate styles of living or recently deceased artists.

  • 3

    Inappropriate content generation

    AI systems may not fully grasp the cultural significance, historical context, or symbolic meanings associated with certain imagery, which can lead to insensitive or inappropriate content generation.

Generative AI Use Cases

The advent of generative AI has sparked a revolution across various industries, presenting a lot of generative AI business ideas that are reshaping how companies operate, innovate, and interact with their customers. Below, we explore how companies using generative AI to drive growth and innovation.

Marketing

  • AI can generate customized images, videos, or text for targeted advertising, making content more relevant to individual consumers.
  • AI tools can automate content creation for social media, generating posts that are optimized for engagement based on trends and user behavior.
How to use AI in marketing, AI in marketing ideas, AI in social media marketing

Entertainment

  • AI can assist in the rapid prototyping of characters and environments for video games, movies, and virtual reality.
  • Generative AI can produce music for various purposes, ranging from video game soundtracks to background music for videos.
How to use AI in entertainment. AI in entertainment ideas, AI applications in entertainment

Business Process Automation

  • AI can automate the extraction of relevant information from documents and generate summaries or reports.
  • Generative AI can craft personalized email content, optimizing for click-through and conversion rates.
RetroStyle Games office photo and team members

Education

AI can design engaging characters and visuals for eLearning platforms.

The usage of AI business use cases is vast and varied, with incredible opportunities for innovation and growth. Recent studies have shown that incorporating a mascot into advertising can significantly boost profitability and market share. A well-designed mascot has the potential to increase company profits by up to 30% and expand market share by an average of 37%.

We recently worked with Amazon’s AI team to create cool mascots that are now a key part of their team. These characters help Amazon connect better with people. We made character art that gave AWS a special symbol.

For more details on how character design influences eLearning and marketing, consider our 2D character design services

Cartoon Stylized Characters - Fox, Chipmunk, and Monkey, AI-Driven Game Art Design Services for game development market

Why Our Mascot Stands Out:

Mascot is designed to become a social media star. Beyond just appearing in ads, it's ready to spark memes, and conversations. This helps spread your brand message far and wide.

It makes AWS's advanced tech easy to understand and fun, showing that learning about technology can be enjoyable and straightforward.

We focus on making our mascot colorful, imaginative, and full of life. It's not just any character; it's the perfect mix of art and emotion.

Challenges and Considerations

AI bias happens when AI systems show unfairness, often because they learn from data that already has human biases. This can cause problems in many areas, like job hiring or giving out loans. To fix this, we need to be very careful about the data we use to teach AI and make sure the teams working on AI include people from different backgrounds to help make the AI fairer. For instance, efforts to minimize bias include transparent AI that is explainable and understandable​​.

The legal aspects of using artworks created by AI are complex. They touch on copyright laws and whether current legal frameworks adequately cover new forms of creation. With AI systems now able to create artworks, there are questions about who holds the copyright to such pieces and the extent to which AI can use existing works as part of its training datasets without infringing on the rights of the original creators.

Ethical debates about using existing works of art to train AI models also persist, particularly when considering the integrity and originality of AI-generated works. There’s an ongoing discussion on ethical challenges about the need for regulations that could help guide the ethical development of AI systems, ensuring they do not perpetuate historical biases or infringe upon human rights. Several regions, like the European Union and Australia, have begun to establish ethical frameworks for AI, signaling a move towards more regulated AI development​​.

AI challenges and considerations in game development, how to overcome AI implementation challenges

Summarizing about AI Art Generators

AI art generators have the potential to accelerate the creative process through rapid concept visualization. They can also democratize the creation of art, providing tools for non-artists to participate in visual storytelling. Ai offer novel approaches to art education, allowing exploration of different styles and AI art techniques. Also, they propel the marketing, entertainment, and gaming industries with tailored and engaging visual content.

So, they can do a lot, but they also face big problems. Since they learn from lots of data, any unfairness in the data can make the AI produce biased or even offensive results. So, it’s very important to use diverse and fair data to teach AI and to carefully manage the data to avoid these biases.

AI art generators future, impact of AI art generators on the future of game development

Using AI to create art raises legal questions about copyright and who owns the art. It also raises ethical issues about how AI learns from existing art. People are asking for clear rules and trustworthy AI.

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