Artificial Art: Creating Artworks Using Artificial Intelligence (Image Generation)

Arman Abadeh
8 min readJan 30, 2024

Artificial Intelligence is a rapidly evolving technology that has shown remarkable capabilities. One of its most intriguing abilities is the creation of artwork. AI can generate images, portraits, music, and even videos. Combining human creativity with artificial intelligence can result in highly captivating artworks, providing even greater enjoyment for the audience. This writing aims to examine the trends in art production using AI. We will explain the processes of generating images through artificial intelligence in simple and understandable terms for the general public. We will also delve into the accomplishments and capabilities of AI in this domain and introduce several practical tools.

How does artificial intelligence generate images?

The process of image generation by artificial intelligence might seem complex and difficult to understand at first. However, upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that it is not as complicated and mysterious as it appears. Artificial intelligence generates images using two methods:

  1. Conditional or descriptive
  2. Unconditional or non-descriptive

In this write-up, we will examine conditional image generation in a simple and easy-to-comprehend manner. AI-powered tools frequently employ Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for conditional image generation. GANs are an intriguing innovation in machine learning. They possess the ability to generate novel images that conform to the established patterns and characteristics of the data used during the training process. Simply put, every GAN comprises two main components:

  1. Generator
  2. Discriminator

The task of the generator is to create new images. This network is trained on a dataset and aims to produce images that are similar to actual images. In the case of conditional image generation, the generator uses specific inputs such as text descriptions or feature vectors and strives to create images that meet these conditions.

The generator’s role is to craft brand-new images, whereas the discriminator’s mission is to differentiate the images created by the generator from the real pictures. The discriminator provides the generator with feedback by scrutinizing the newly created data. This feedback helps the generator elevate its performance, leading to the production of remarkable images. As the training and improvement process goes on, the generator becomes proficient in generating images that are more realistic and resemble actual pictures.

In this approach, artificial intelligence uses language models to interpret text descriptions and generate images. In simple and concise terms, the steps involved in the operation of Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) models for text comprehension and conditional image generation are as follows:

The input text is first tokenized, which involves breaking it down into individual words. Next, the tokenized text is represented numerically to make it suitable for processing by the model.

Next, the Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) comprehends the text and captures temporal and semantic relationships between words to obtain a feature vector representation.

After generating the feature vector, the image generation networks, whose functionality has been discussed above, are employed to produce an image that aligns with the user’s input data.

The Achievements and Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Image Generation

Have you ever wondered about the practical applications of images generated by artificial intelligence? Are they of good quality and can they be used in various fields? In this section, we will explore the different uses and advancements in AI-generated images and designs.

1. Realistic Image Generation: Thanks to Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), it has become possible to create images that bear close resemblance to real-life images. There are instances where it may be difficult for the average person to differentiate between an AI-generated image and a real one! For example, look at the following images published on the zapier.com (View source) website:

Image of the Eiffel Tower on Mars (made by artificial intelligence)
“Only the Eiffel Tower on Mars,” generated with neural.love (Real image production with AI)
Roman table lamp image (made with artificial intelligence)
Table lamp Roman ultra-realistic, generated with neural.love (Real image production with AI)

2. Fantasy and Creative Image Generation: Have you ever imagined something that seems impossible, like a city floating in the clouds? Creating such images requires advanced skills in image generation software. But today, with the help of artificial intelligence, you can bring your ideas to life with just a description. AI can help you create visual art, music, and even films.

Making fantasy and creative images with AI
Creating fantasy and creative images with artificial intelligence (published on freepik.com)

3. Image Quality Enhancement: If you want to enhance the quality and level of detail in your images, using AI-based tools could be an excellent option. Artificial intelligence can significantly improve the quality of your images and can also edit them according to your preferences.

Even popular image editing software like Photoshop now incorporates the use of artificial intelligence. With the integration of AI into this software, some tasks that may have required more time, precision, and skill can now be easily done with a few clicks. For example:

a) Removing flaws, spots, and noise from images and improving their quality
b) Resizing and cropping images, repairing, adjusting, and enhancing colors
c) Removing unwanted elements in images
d) Creating new elements and adding new sections to images based solely on the description of what you want!

4. Entertainment and Creation of Artworks: artificial intelligence tools can be effectively utilized to explore artworks similar to those created by renowned artists worldwide or generate unique and innovative painting ideas.

AI-generated images are used in a wide range of fields, from medical sciences and healthcare to various applications in industries and commerce. The use of AI tools in image production or enhancement is generally cost-effective and time-efficient, and the generated samples often possess suitable levels of quality and accuracy.

What are the limitations of artificial intelligence in creating images? What will be the future job market for humans?

At first glance, considering the achievements and capabilities of artificial intelligence, one might imagine that AI has no limitations in image production and design. However, this perception is entirely wrong. Like any other tool, artificial intelligence has limitations and shortcomings in various areas, including image production and artistic creations, and it cannot fully replace human labor in work environments. Some common limitations of artificial intelligence include:

1. Lack of Creativity: Currently, artificial intelligence is devoid of human creativity and cannot be considered a tool with human-like creative abilities. Although artificial intelligence has access to vast amounts of information and is continuously learning and improving its algorithms, it can only serve as a useful tool available to humans and It is not acceptable for artificial intelligence to completely replace human power.

2. Limited Diversity: Artificial intelligence often faces limited diversity in image production. In other words, the generated images may be repetitive or similar to each other, lacking sufficient variety in the output.

3. Lack of Understanding Details: Artificial intelligence usually cannot fully comprehend the meaning of an image. As a result, some details and nuances may be overlooked in the generated images. Additionally, the output images may not completely align with the preferences and desires of users and may exhibit minor differences in certain aspects.

4. Social Rules and Limitations: AI cannot fully adhere to social rules and limitations in image production. The generated images may contain inappropriate or socially unacceptable content.

The mentioned limitations are just some of the constraints of artificial intelligence in image production. However, with the continuous advancement of AI, its capabilities and functionalities are improving, and these limitations are gradually decreasing over time.

AI Tools for Image Generation: A Beginner’s Guide

Looking to create stunning visuals but don’t have the artistic skills? No problem! Let me introduce you to some amazing AI-powered tools that can generate mind-blowing images with just a few clicks. Keep reading to find out more!

In addition to AI-based tools available in some image editing software such as Photoshop, the following are among the most popular AI models in image generation:

  1. Midjourney:
    Midjourney is an AI-powered image generation robot that creates custom images based on text commands and requested features. Currently, it’s only accessible through a Discord bot and requires a subscription purchase. Midjourney’s capabilities include generating images of animals, landscapes, and objects, creating custom logos and designs, and providing artistic filters and effects. (Developer’s Website)
  2. DALL-E:
    DALL-E 3 is an AI-powered image generation model, created by OpenAI, that helps generate high-quality text prompts. It delivers good image generation results with fast generation times. The feature is available exclusively for ChatGPT Plus users who have a paid subscription. However, it can generally be accessed for free on Bing Chat or with the Bing Image Generator. (Developer’s Website)
  3. Stable Diffusion:
    There is an open-source tool available for image generation that enables users to create images from text. This tool comes with a variety of editing options and allows users to input any text they desire. It is highly configurable and well-liked among users. Additionally, users have complete copyright ownership over the images they produce. However, it requires a more robust PC or Mac to run locally. (Developer’s Website)
  4. Starry.ai:
    An AI-based image generation service used for creating artistic images and transforming photos into artworks. (Developer’s Website)

There are several other services for generating images using AI, such as DreamStudio (Developer’s Website) and others.

Final words and conclusion

In conclusion, this article has explored the fascinating world of image generation, particularly focusing on the revolutionary concept of Generative Adversarial Networks. We have discovered the incredible potential that arises when artificial intelligence combines with real images, resulting in mesmerizing outputs filled with intricate details. Through extensive training on diverse datasets, AI has gained the ability to understand and replicate the complex patterns and rules that govern images, leading to a wide range of awe-inspiring creations.

While AI has made significant progress, it still falls short of fully replicating human creativity. However, these advancements have brought us closer to a future where AI can generate images filled with originality and captivating beauty without limits. With the support of advanced technologies and ongoing research, we are optimistic that AI will continue to surpass its current limitations and amaze us with its unmatched creative abilities.

In summary, the fusion of artificial intelligence and image generation offers limitless possibilities, pushing the boundaries of creativity and opening new frontiers. As we embark on this exciting journey, we eagerly anticipate witnessing the remarkable evolution of AI as it redefines the world of image generation with its ever-expanding capabilities.

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