AI Art of Tom Petty: Not Ready for Prime Time
OpenArt.ai generates interesting renditions, but nothing we’d want to own
Artificial intelligence systems — large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, large design models (for architecture, art, and graphic design), and large audio models (with the Beatles the latest to express interest in making AI-infused music) — are attracting a lot of interest these days, for a variety of reasons.
As usual, some people are over the moon about their potential, while others are all doom and gloom. The truth will likely prove a little more mundane and unimpressive. For example, the opening credits to the new Marvel series, Secret Wars, were done with the aid of an AI system, but they aren’t very appealing or memorable.
Along these lines, OpenArt.ai is a system that lets you describe something you want rendered, and the medium (oil paint, watercolor, pencil, etc.). While the capabilities are impressive at a certain level — you don’t have to enter much information to get a reasonable result — the outputs aren’t anything we’d want to have around for long.
Take, for instance, this rendering of “a painting of Tom Petty in concert”:
Now, it’s not exactly terrible, but it’s also not great. Given that it took only 17 seconds to generate, it beats a human artist for efficiency. And, of course, the technology is probably going to be far better in a year or two.
Here’s another example, this time “a painting based on Tom Petty’s song ‘The Waiting’”:
Not a subtle commentary reflective of the lyrics, but more like something you’d paint if you only had the song title . . .
The watercolor of Tom Petty gets a little better:
But the pencil drawing is creepy:
And a painting based on the lyrics to “Wildflowers” again shows a literal interpretation of the song title, with nothing inspired:
Will AI-driven art become mainstream? Will AI-infused music move us? Will AI-written lyrics bring us to tears?
While we wait to find out, come see actual human musicians play some of your favorite Tom Petty music. We promise, it’s all genuine!
WooHoo!!
Win Free Tickets to Start Line Brewing, August 19th
We’re headed back to Start Line Brewing in Hopkinton on Saturday, August 19th. These shows sell out, so we’ve secured two tickets to give away. Start Line is an awesome place, with great food, beer, and facilities. We love playing there!
What To Do?
How can you get these free tickets? Simply send us an email indicating naming the song containing the following lyrics:
Sometimes I get discouraged
Sometimes I feel so down
Sometimes I get so worried
But I don’t know what about
But it works out in the long run
Always goes away
And I’ve come now to accept it
As a reoccurring phase
We’ll need your entry by Friday, July 21st.