Can You Sell AI-Generated Art?

It’s no secret that we are in the middle of an AI revolution, where AI technology has started becoming more mainstream in a wide range of fields. 

And it’s no surprise that many of us are left confused about the world of AI and how it integrates with art. So in this article, we’ll answer some common questions surrounding AI-generated art and whether you can sell it. Let’s begin!

What Is AI-Generated Art?

For most of history, art was made by humans. In fact, the ability to be creative enough to make art was considered unique to humans.

In the digital world of today, however, things are changing quickly. Artificial intelligence art generators can now create unique art by using refined algorithms developed using art pieces from various periods, cultures, and styles. This not only includes digital paintings, but also videos, animations, and music. 

Artists, AI developers, and others can debate on whether AI art will ever match the creativity and scope of man-made art. But one thing is clear — even at this early stage, AI is more than capable of creating artwork that is diverse, fascinating, unique, and in a lot of cases, impossible to identify as “artificial.”

The History Of AI-Generated Art

Using machines to create art isn’t exactly new. Computers have been able to create art since the 1950s.

However, the type of technology needed to generate the complex artwork we see nowadays didn’t come into existence until the 2000s, when Alexander Mordvintsev created the “deep dream” program that could create abstract images using complex algorithms.

However, it wasn’t until 2018 — when an AI-created portrait called “Edmond de Belamy” was auctioned — that AI art set foot on the global auction stage. The piece shook the art world by selling at a whopping $432,500 at Christie’s.

Due to the growing popularity of the blockchain in recent times, celebrities and digital artists have now started creating AI-generated NFT art pieces that are being sold for even larger sums of money.

If you’re interested in creating NFT art, check out our blog posts on what it means to be an AI artist and software used to create NFT art.

Can You Sell AI-Generated Art?

The growing popularity of AI art raises some very interesting ethical and regulatory questions about art ownership.

Legally, there is no doubt that AI can be considered simply a tool used by artists. This is similar to how a photographer uses his camera or photo editing software to 

capture good photos. 

Therefore, the software can’t be considered the owner of an AI artwork and the artist is free to sell the art they generated using AI.

However, someone who attempts to resell or copy AI-generated artwork of another artist would infringe on their copyright. And this would be illegal. 

What’s The Appeal Of AI Art?

There are various reasons why so many people create and buy AI-generated art. These include:

• It is an affordable way to purchase art. While a lot of the publicity and hype around AI art focuses on pieces that sell for millions, there are thousands of affordable artworks also available.
• It’s a new medium of art. Many people love acquiring the latest tech products. Individuals interested in AI and Machine Learning (ML) find AI-generated artwork fascinating.
• It can be highly profitable. Art has always been a good investment and often increases exponentially in value. Similar to how people have long invested in paintings for future profits, many people today are choosing to invest in AI art in hopes of turning a profit.

If you’re interested in creating your own AI generated art, take a look at our text-to-image AI software. You can get started in just a few minutes!