Saudi Arabia Sponsors AI Artathon
So far, humans have accepted that artificial intelligence systems can perform many of the rote tasks that humans find tedious and time-consuming. However, the consensus is that AI can’t produce art that’s engaging and moving. Saudi Arabia aims to give AI a chance to “express” itself artistically at their AI Artathon. The event, which starts in January 2020, offers AI experts and artists the opportunity to produce works of art using AI techniques and methodologies. It’s a precursor to the Global AI Summit, which is scheduled to take place in Riyadh on 30th-31st March 2020.
AI Art Becoming a Movement
While AI can’t as yet, create art on its own, users can leverage the AI to produce works of art that are pleasing to the eye and doesn’t take a lot of time to do so. AI, guided by human artists, have been able to write poetry and even create paintings. Computer art has advanced significantly from the earliest days of digital drawing. The earliest implementation of AI in artistic endeavors happened in 2015 when Neural Network DeepDream was used to develop surrealistic image composites from digital assets. Today’s AI art is less surreal and more along the lines of what one expects from a classically trained artist.
Rewarding Excellence
Twenty teams in total will be selected from the field to participate in a final run starting on the 26th of January. These teams will take part in several workshops and training development courses. A panel of judges drawn from the international community will then settle on ten (10) pieces that will be exhibited in Riyadh for the Global AI Summit. The producers of each of these ten pieces will be rewarded with cash prizes. The top three teams stand to share $133,000. The program is supported by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture, as well as several telecommunications companies and universities.
