The article discusses the relationship between the political right and AI-generated art, arguing that the right’s adoption of AI reflects a disdain for traditional artistic expression and labor. It critiques the use of AI visual culture as a means of asserting power over marginalized groups while highlighting the industry’s appeal to the right by producing art devoid of soul and creativity. This trend signifies a broader ideological shift towards a ‘postmodern conservatism’ that embraces cruelty and rejects enlightenment humanism, ultimately normalizing AI in public consciousness. The author suggests that combating AI’s negative impact may involve mocking its aesthetics and the inadequacies of its proponents.
| name | description | change | 10-year | driving-force | relevancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI-Generated Art Popularity | The rise of AI-generated art among right-wing groups and figures. | Shift from traditional art to AI-generated imagery that aligns with their ideologies. | AI-generated art may dominate mainstream media, impacting perceptions of artistic value and creativity. | The right’s rejection of traditional artistic expression in favor of easily accessible technology. | 4 |
| Normalization of Cruelty in Art | Increasing acceptance of art that deliberately causes harm or offends vulnerable groups. | Transition from art as a reflection of humanity to art as a tool for cruelty against out-groups. | Art and media may increasingly reflect cruel, nihilistic values, diminishing empathy in society. | A reactionary cultural shift prioritizing provocation over artistic quality or social responsibility. | 5 |
| Political Affiliation with Tech Industry | Right-wing groups forming alliances with tech companies despite past liberal affiliations. | Transition from skepticism of tech to collaborative alliances for mutual benefits, especially in AI. | Political narratives may increasingly intertwine with tech, influencing governance and societal norms. | A strategic alignment between capital interests and political movements, focusing on control and influence. | 4 |
| AI as a Symbol of Power | The portrayal of AI and technology as empowering to right-wing figures and ideologies. | Shift from viewing technology as a tool for all to a means of exerting power and dominance. | AI may become synonymous with authority, shaping socio-political landscapes in favor of oppressive regimes. | A desire for power consolidation among right-wing factions, leveraging technology for control. | 3 |
| Erosion of Objective Truth | A growing trend of rejecting empirical reality in favor of subjective truths. | Movement from objective standards of truth to personal interpretations, complicating discourse. | Public discourse may become increasingly polarized, undermining rational debate and consensus. | The desire of certain political groups to reshape narratives to align with their ideologies over facts. | 4 |
| Art as a Weapon | Utilizing art and media to inflict psychological harm on opposition groups. | Shift from art as a mode of expression to art as a means of reinforcing societal hierarchies. | Art and cultural products might serve as tools for oppression, further marginalizing dissenters. | Strategic manipulation of media by powerful political factions to assert dominance and control. | 5 |
| name | description | relevancy |
|---|---|---|
| AI as a tool for propaganda | The use of AI-generated imagery to spread harmful ideologies and propagate hate. | 5 |
| Job displacement due to AI | The potential for AI to replace jobs, particularly in creative sectors, leading to economic instability for workers. | 5 |
| Normalization of cruelty in art | AI art often embodies and promotes cruelty towards societal out-groups, shifting cultural norms. | 4 |
| Deterioration of artistic values | AI-generated art reflects a rejection of traditional artistic values, emphasizing power dynamics over creativity. | 4 |
| Environmental impact of AI technology | AI’s resource consumption and carbon footprint contribute to environmental degradation. | 4 |
| Exploitation of human vulnerabilities | AI tools may exploit vulnerable groups through deepfakes and abusive imagery, leading to psychological harm. | 5 |
| Ethical concerns around AI leadership | Leaders in AI, such as Sam Altman, whose personal controversies reflect wider ethical issues in the industry. | 3 |
| AI promoting disinformation | The potential for AI to generate misleading or false information at scale, affecting public discourse. | 4 |
| Resistance to factual truth | The right’s denial of objective truths in favor of narratives that align with their ideologies, facilitated by AI. | 5 |
| Consumer apathy towards AI technology | The public’s frustration and indifference towards poorly-implemented AI projects could undermine tech advancements. | 3 |
| name | description | relevancy |
|---|---|---|
| AI Art Adoption by Right Wing | Increasing acceptance and use of AI-generated art and imagery among right-wing political groups. | 4 |
| Rejection of Human Labor | A growing disdain for hiring human workers for creative tasks, favoring AI-generated content instead. | 5 |
| Normalization of Cruelty in Art | The use of AI-generated art as a medium to express and normalize cruelty towards marginalized groups. | 5 |
| Political Investment in AI Technology | Parties and movements on the right are committing substantial financial resources to AI development and integration. | 4 |
| Absurdism in Right Wing Discourse | A trend of embracing absurdity and anti-Enlightenment sentiments in right wing ideologies and art. | 4 |
| Gendered Cruelty via AI | The emergence of AI technologies being used to perpetuate gendered forms of cruelty and misogyny. | 5 |
| Delegitimization of Traditional Art Standards | A shift in value from traditional artistic standards to a focus on the impact of art as a tool for ideological expression. | 3 |
| Childish Bullying as Political Strategy | A trend where right wing movements adopt behaviors likened to childish bullying as a means of political engagement. | 4 |
| Resistance to Reality and Rational Discourse | A growing trend of refusing empirical reality and rational discussions within right wing narratives. | 5 |
| Embracing Ugly Aesthetics | A celebration of aesthetically displeasing imagery as an assertion of power by right-wing figures. | 4 |
| description | relevancy | src |
|---|---|---|
| The use of artificial intelligence to create visual content, often characterized by disturbing or glossy aesthetics, influencing political and social narratives. | 5 | d9eabadabb28c2a17d6808d33314e808 |
| AI systems capable of understanding and generating human-like text, transforming writing and communication practices. | 5 | d9eabadabb28c2a17d6808d33314e808 |
| A form of art created using AI algorithms, often lacking traditional artistic value, used for propaganda and express ideological positions. | 4 | d9eabadabb28c2a17d6808d33314e808 |
| AI-based tools that create realistic fake images or videos, often utilized in unethical ways, including misleading representations of individuals. | 4 | d9eabadabb28c2a17d6808d33314e808 |
| Integration of AI technologies in platforms like Instagram to enhance user engagement, often raising ethical concerns. | 3 | d9eabadabb28c2a17d6808d33314e808 |
| Using AI tools to produce content across various media, aiming to reduce human labor and lower costs, but often resulting in low-quality output. | 4 | d9eabadabb28c2a17d6808d33314e808 |
| Technological solutions for managing online content, struggling to meet user expectations and facing rapid failures. | 2 | d9eabadabb28c2a17d6808d33314e808 |
| Financial commitment to develop AI capabilities, emphasizing the technology’s centrality to future economic and social frameworks. | 4 | d9eabadabb28c2a17d6808d33314e808 |
| The convergence of AI technologies with cryptocurrency markets, providing new investment opportunities but also raising ethical questions. | 3 | d9eabadabb28c2a17d6808d33314e808 |
| name | description | relevancy |
|---|---|---|
| AI-generated art and propaganda | The rise of AI-generated imagery used for political propaganda, signaling contempt for traditional labor and artistry. | 5 |
| Postmodern conservatism | A shift in right-wing ideology characterized by a rejection of Enlightenment values, embracing irrationality and entertainment in politics. | 5 |
| Technological commodification of art | The use of AI to produce art devoid of human emotion, raising concerns over authenticity and value in artistic expression. | 4 |
| Economic impact of AI on labor | AI’s potential to displace workers, particularly in creative sectors, contributing to growing inequality and social issues. | 5 |
| Normalization of cruelty in technology | The acceptance and promotion of technologies like AI that are perceived as cruel and harmful, particularly by right-wing groups. | 5 |
| Environmental concerns of AI | The environmental degradation caused by the proliferation of AI technologies, including high energy consumption and carbon emissions. | 4 |
| Gender-based violence in AI applications | The use of AI for deepfakes and other representations that perpetuate gendered violence and misogyny. | 5 |
| Cultural shifts in tech leadership | Changes in the tech industry’s leadership aligning with conservative values and aesthetics, reflecting broader sociopolitical dynamics. | 4 |