Written by: Vareesha Khan

Of the countless phenomena we as humanity co-exist with, there are many which are slowly fading away, fleeting without our notice into oblivion. Nature’s marvels that were once believed to stand the test of time, that we experienced the presence of on the daily, have found themselves on the cusp of being ephemeral. Some might remember hearing and spotting numerous sparrows in their neighborhoods a little over a decade ago.

India One Samachar (c)

I remember waking up to their chirping during my childhood, seeing them fluttering about from one tree to another, being accompanied by them as I scurried over to reach the bus stop for school. However, not so recently, it came to my notice how gradually, their existence has been slipping away from the grasp of nature and there are minimal at best sparrows in sight in today’s time.

The clutches the modern world and keeping up with the times has on humans is remarkable to note. Not to mention the health crises that had consumed us not long ago, and still continue to do so, leading to drastic changes that made our priorities take a sharp turn. The current economic downfall and recession has also taken a harsh blow at most of us. We have, understandably so, become too preoccupied with personal affairs to care for the nature around us. It’s also important to consider that most of the downward spiraling trends are our own doing. The eradication of various species around us is due to climate change and global warming, which are steadily and detrimentally on the rise. Our doings not only affect the beings surrounding us on Earth, but also our ability to perceive our celestial neighbours.

Light pollution, a form of pollution often overlooked, is described as the excessive, inappropriate and misdirected artificial light in the atmosphere, and caused mostly by outdoor lighting of the buildings, streets and other venues in the urbanized cities. This enormous amount of light has become insurmountable to control. It results in a sky glow that meddles with the natural light of the celestial bodies and obstructs their view of the night sky. Studies have shown that the night sky becomes around 10% brighter each year. It leads to disruptions not only in astronomical monitoring, but also in the functioning of the ecosystems, while also affecting human health and wildlife in ways both known and yet to be discovered. Over the decades we’ve seen a substantial decrease in the stars visible to us in the night sky.

A way of seeking leisure which people once found solace and joy in, an activity which has led to multiple valuable discoveries over the course of history, is transitioning into an obscure occurrence. A thing of wonder and comfort, a source of inspiration and hope for many art forms, viewing and basking in the night sky full of stars has become obsolete for a good majority of us.

It makes one wonder what the long-term implications of the current natural advancements, or the lack thereof, will be on mankind. Younger generations who seldom find interest in subjects other than their electronic devices and social media presences are developing in an unprecedented manner. It is a noteworthy issue to ponder over regardless of one’s age. We as a global society are losing touch with our natural companions and that is insidiously, yet profoundly creeping up on us, and is predicted to adversely affect us. It is the need of the hour to take a step back and revel in the wonders of nature, care for the animals in our proximity, regard our surroundings with compassion, look up at the sky at night every once in a while, or better yet visit a dark sky zone if possible, and wallow the magnificence of a starry night, one of the many spectacles of nature, in all its glory.

Using Artificial Intelligence or Annihilating one’s Intellect: In Defense of Human Creativity

In light of the recent surge in technological advancements, specifically the rapidly evolving Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its use by the masses, certain interesting developments have been taking place in the creative spheres. Whether it is writing for academic and professional purposes or more subjective and personal ones, or creating art pieces which require sincere effort, discipline and dedication, a regressive trend of excessively utilizing AI is being observed. By employing the use of this technology we’re embracing and priding ourselves in being unoriginal and uncreative.

Students who earlier had to research, read up relevant sources, take a deep dive to understand the material in order to write educational essays, theses, reviews and reports, can now attain their desired result at the entry of a prompt and a click of a button. This has started to create a never before seen nuisance for the teachers and professors being subjected to the submission of the so called original works, which somehow have the same structure and use the same monotonous writing style. There is increasingly a concerning inclination towards using AI to write narratives and poetry, to easily access and label as your own, something which never was or ever will be your creation. Some individuals have started going so far as to write and publish books using this technology. It’s utterly absurd yet amusing at the same time how little faith people have in their own intelligence and creative capabilities. Consequently, indolence and shallow convenience are reaching a new high with each passing day.

The use of Generative AI for the purpose of creating artworks is also a heavily debated subject in recent times. Many people have been using AI to generate illustrations they desire, often in an attempt to replicate an art style they have no knowledge, respect for the process, or passion about. If they’re naïve, they even wilfully give away their personal pictures to AI just so it could slap a filter on them and make an “animated version” of themselves. Here’s the thing, AI isn’t a magic tool that conjures art out of thin air just by entering a few words. It is a program that was trained by stealing creations of non-consenting artists both traditional and digital. The use of such a technology that blatantly disregards and exploits creators is now not only celebrated but also defended. It’s treated merely as a fascinating toy that pumps out “original art” at the click of a few buttons. While in reality, all it does is feed off previously crafted works and regurgitates its pathetic, lifeless replicas.

AI art lacks originality, a personal flair, is often anatomically inaccurate and has no soul or story behind it. These qualities are what move people when they engage with art. We need to humanize and value artists as well as the diligence and exertion that go into their craftsmanship. Art is a reflection of humanity, a mirror of the era we belong to. It’s an arduous process which indeed requires a lot of efforts, but is highly rewarding and gratifying. It does not treat creations as mere commodities but rather as a part of the artists’ heart and soul poured out and breathing life into their work, immortalizing them.

Let’s analogize why AI “creations” are inappropriate through a hypothetical scenario. Let’s say your favourite late classic singer’s voice has been used to train an AI program, and then further utilized to churn out “brand new” songs with said non-consenting singer’s voice. It sounds downright disrespectful, unethical and sacrilegious towards the artist whose legacy is still cherished and will be remembered fondly for years to come. Just like you wouldn’t applaud your favourite singer and his craft being demeaned in such a manner, you shouldn’t celebrate the theft of non-consenting artists’ work and their use of generating images that are soulless, lacklustre and devoid of any personality or creativity whatsoever.

Art of all forms and variations, whether it’s literature, painting, music, animation, or performing among many others, will always remain the most authentic and emotive medium of expression. No product made by any AI technology will ever be comparable let alone be able to surpass or emulate the tenderness, devotion, enthusiasm and sincerity poured into human-made creations. Their craft is a result of honing their skills for years with discipline, dedication and love unfathomable to the crowd who find amusement in a technology that wouldn’t even exist if it didn’t have real art to leech off. It’s high time we as a society resume valuing and respecting real, human artists who actually put in efforts to make creations that are imaginative, original, captivating, inspiring and capable of touching the hearts of its audience.

The artists of the past wouldn’t have achieved the greatness they did if they didn’t believe in themselves or halted creating because of impediments. Let’s have a bit more faith in our learning and creative capacity. If the classics could create art in the era of no internet or technology, so can we.

(Author Vareesha Khan,is a PG Scholar currently pursuing Masters in English Literature.)