Exploring the ethical boundaries of using artificial intelligence to create art and ensuring authentic human creativity is celebrated and protected.
Website Design + Development
Abstract Intelligence
Fine art
2024
An exploration into the use of AI within the world of art and culture
A self-initiated project by Mallard & Claret
The brief
Artificial intelligence is drastically changing the nature of creative processes
Abstract Intelligence is an exploration into the use of AI within the world of art and culture—in particular, the ethical impact of using AI to produce artwork using prompts that specifically reference another artist’s name or style or that have been trained using copyrighted material.
To demonstrate this point, we use examples that compare the results of instructing an AI to produce a piece of art “in the style of Mona Lisa” versus simply describing the artwork without referencing the artist or the original painting.
Overview
Generative AI algorithms sit at the intersection of technology and creativity, blurring the lines between the once independent worlds. Whether you feel a sense of joy or dread when you think of the future of AI, it’s undeniable that the creative boundaries of art are changing... as is the canvas.
Our biggest challenge was performance optimisation. Despite the creativity in asset-heavy websites, we were determined to prove that they don't actually have to be heavy.
Performance edge
Achieving page speed scores in the 90s took a while to perfect, and once we got there, Google then introduced some new parameters in its scoring algorithm that penalised Abstract Intelligence further. Despite this, our Lighthouse scores are 100/92/100/100—the 92 being a colour-contrast ratio penalty.
Dont’ compromise on creative
The site opens with a 3-D sculpture of Michelangelo’s David covered in graffiti, which, on scroll, breaks apart to commence the story. The site is extremely text heavy, so our goal was to make the experience of scrolling and interacting with content as engaging as possible. This included an interesting mouse AI/paintbrush interaction and adding a subtle noise to all of the images.
