Gallery defends decision to use AI images in exhibition

The chief executive of one of Northern Ireland's leading photography galleries has defended the use of images generated by AI in an exhibition.

Deirdre Robb from Belfast Exposed gallery said the images are "controversial" and the work "does ask questions".

Some photographers have criticised the decision to include the work.

Local artist Chloe Austin said that "AI completely devalues creative labour" and that it doesn't include culture, memories or languages because it is trained through data.

The AI images were part of an exhibition called 'Beneath the Surface' by nine Master of Fine Arts (MFA) graduates from Ulster University.

Robb said the context behind the art is looking at misogyny, adding: "It's quite satirical and there's a good bit of humour in it."

"Belfast Exposed has never been afraid of controversy or putting things out there or asking the important questions and to me this is no different than that," he added.

The artist behind the images, Jonny Sheridan, described them as exploring the "perils of AI".

Sheridan created the photography pieces using generative AI software and said it "took far more than pressing a button".

"Each scene began with an idea and went through rounds of prompting, rejection, and revision," he told BBC News NI in a statement.

"Everything was considered and reworked, including composition, background, character development, lighting, style and symbolism.

"Concerns about AI alignment with human values, the impact on employment and fears about the end of humanity are addressed."

But Austin, who graduated from the same Masters of Fine Art course in 2020 and has gone on to gain a PhD, argued that AI is "completely eroding creative jobs".

It "scours the web for other artists' work and steals it without any permission", she said.

"The people who are really suffering are the creatives who have dedicated their whole lives to doing this, and now people can just type in a prompt and create it in seconds," she said.

Austin added: "There's no connection to be made through an AI prompt, and isn't that what art is meant to do?

"Art is meant to connect people - that's the most powerful thing about it."

Belfast-based photographer Brendan Harkin believes there should be a 'No AI' policy, stating that it is "unethical to use it".

"There's the environmental impact which is well known," he said.

"These AI data centres use huge amounts of water, particularly when it comes to image generation, because of the amount of water needed for cooling them."

Harkin added that "when it comes down to the creative side of it, it's just bereft of creativity to me".

"There was an idea there that Sheridan had, and rather than using the skill and creativity of photography, he opted to use AI.

"It's a shame because this has become the story about it," Harkin added.