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What’s a GAN (generative adversarial network), and how can A.I. be used for art?
Learn how generative adversarial networks (GANs) can be used for art and storytelling, and browse Ha.i.kus - a new form of poetry written by a human and illustrated by artificial intelligence.
GAN-generated imagery from Ha.i.kus, Vol. 1: Cycle of Water
“The story of evolution unfolds with increasing levels of abstraction.”
Ray Kurzweil
For machine learning, and especially GANs, it’s only just the beginning…
There are endless applications for machine learning, a RAPIDLY evolving space expected to surpass $20 billion by 2025 (for context, as of this writing it’s at about $1.5 billion). Artificial intelligence is already embedded in much of our daily lives, from search engines to virtual assistants to virtual reality. There is infinite potential for how A.I. technology can enhance the human experience, and that’s especially true when it comes to art.
Since A.I. is such a vague topic, and one in its infancy of development, let’s focus in on one very unique, tiny corner of A.I. - a machine learning model known as a generative adversarial network, or GAN for short. A GAN is a framework designed to create new samples of data in an evolving learning environment.
GAN-generated image for "Musical Storm” - a Ha.i.ku by ThoughtPose
How does a GAN work?
Image Source: Machine Learning Mastery
Without getting too far in the weeds, a GAN consists of a sample data set with input parameters, and then two networks (outlined below) designed to train one another back-and-forth in a friendly competition of sorts.
Network #1 - the generative model
Generates new instances of data based on the original data set and prompt given. Its goal is to get better and better at generating these instances, and tricking the discriminator model into “thinking” the new instances are from the original data set.
Network #2 - the discriminative model
Evaluates the accuracy of what was generated against the data set and classifies each instance as either real (from original data set) or fake (rendered by the generator). Its goal is to increase the level of accuracy at which it can tell the difference.
Together, they repeat this process, constantly informing each other as the generator produces better instances of data while the discriminator improves itself at flagging the synthetic samples.
That’s a very basic explanation, but the main point is that these types of models can be designed to learn on their own, and can be tweaked in countless ways in terms of what the starting data set consists of, what's generated and how, as well as how the discriminator is used to score the outputs. While use cases are still in the process of being developed, there’s potential for GANs to assist us across virtually all industries including science, business, economics and, of course, art.
Examples (in the form of Ha.i.kus)
The art community is just getting started with using A.I. to create, and that’s certainly true here at ThoughtPose. For starters, head on over to the Ha.i.kus page, which features poetry written by a human and illustrated by a customized text-to-image GAN.
Try it for yourself
Some tools and resources for experimenting with A.I. creative tools on your own:
NightCafe Studio - This tool allows you to generate images from text, or restyle existing images. You can try for free, and then you will need to buy/earn credits to use the tool further. The number of credits needed per creation varies depending on the settings and criteria you set.
Hotpot.ai - Similar as above in terms of using credits, but with different options and a variety of other A.I. tools beyond text-to-image, such as the ability to write fiction stories, restore old pictures, remove backgrounds from images or designs, translate videos and more. It’s pretty nuts, and an absolute blast to mess around with. They also happen to have excellent and responsive customer service.
A.I. Whisperer - YouTuber and Udemy instructor with easy-to-follow demonstration videos on how to create A.I. art (and even sell them as NFTs). Through his videos, he also shares a few custom GANs (different from how the above tools are programmed) that you can try through Google Colab.
"Alliteration's Allegory" - A Poem in Hindsight of a Great and Terrible Year
“How could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads?”
― Plato, The Allegory of the Cave
“It is the task of the enlightened not only to ascend to learning and to see the good but to be willing to descend again to those prisoners and to share their troubles and their honors, whether they are worth having or not. And this they must do, even with the prospect of death.”
― Plato, The Allegory of the Cave
Angel’s advocate -
Amidst best bets, crediting
Cool, calm, collected debts
Devil’s deal -
Digging dirty ditches
Entering exodus... emptiness
Embellishment-etched,
Embezzlement-esque
Fine fonts flaunting fairness,
Fronting for fostered,
Forceful face-fuck fests
Façade freedom gatherings
God’s gift -
Growing generational governance,
Garnering half-hating, half-hailing
Impressionistic Incessancy
In in-cre-ments,
Insisting it invites
Independence, isn’t its
Inside joblessness
Jesus’ jobe -
Jabbing, “just-joshing” jokes
Kinda kidding, kinda killing laughter
Listening less, lapsing life’s lessons
Letting love lose,
Leveraging loathsome laments
Mocking moments,
Missing memories
Making more
Mortal’s mission -
Noble’s Nemeses
Necromancing "new normals",
Neglecting old obligations, often
Offering opportunistic options -
Positions, power, protection, pardons... politics.
Prophecy's pressure -
Pro quids, questioning quos
Queued quests quoting qi - quitting quips
Queen's quarrel -
Remedies? Rest, reality, reflection, reset, retur...
Recess! Silly. Same swan song, shaking/still
Searching such selfish souls
Slaves shoveling shit superiors stole
Saint’s secret -
Some say, "So?", sometimes sans "sorry", so...
Time's tenet -
Truth trying to tell tall tales,
This then that,
Tit/tat, tisk tisk table-top taps,
"Touch This" traps, touchless
Tongue-tipped, though usually
Uttering undone “ummms” under voiceless
Vader-y ventilations, vibing via vindicated violence
Virgin's view -
Washed, wavelengths wishing without
Wondering, “Why?” Well, why would we?
Whatever.
Warrior’s womb -
Xenic xebecs xeriscaping
Xenophobic xenodiagnoses
Yielding, yet yearning, your yesterdays - yikes!
Yelling (yelping) your yesses - yawn
Zealous zen zones/zombie zoos - Zzz...
Zigzag zeitgesits zeroing zodiacs (zillions) - zing!
Zion’s zenith -
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Here's What 43 People Want to Change about Life
I asked people to share one thing they planned to change. Here are the results.
"WaterCloudWater"
"Share One Thing You Plan to Change"
I have this recurring dream about us all working together toward something big. It's always the same.
I picture two people sitting across from one another at a kitchen table. They're having an open, honest conversation. The ratio between speaking and listening remains mutually equal throughout the exchange. They eventually form a common understanding. They smirk, clink their coffee mugs together, and become friends.
The dream always ends there. It's fucking sweet.
Anyway, I like poetry, so I wrote one about what that conversation could be, if we all could somehow have it together:
WaterCloudWater 1105172100
Observation engages thought
Thought formulates reason
Reason illuminates meaning
Meaning establishes purpose
Purpose inspires action
Action creates change
Change invites observation
I thought the poem came out ok, so I decided to show it at a local art show. It was an interactive piece so, along with the poem itself, I made a request to the audience:
Share one thing you plan to change.
Here are the responses I got from that request:
- Save all the damn dogs
- The way people with mental illnesses are perceived & treated
- My gender
- Level of openness to new energy
- My life
- Societal expectations
- My passion
- This
- My mental health. I have manic depression.
- FTW DON'T ASK ME 4 SHYT!
- Lives
- Bold action only
- Deep gratitude practice for all beings every day xoxo
- Sum bitch
- Job
- 💘
- My attitude about work
- Perspective
- Tha system
- Fake democracy
- I ❤️ Dick
- Tell me how you feel. I won't be mad.
- Sarah's sassiness
- Perception is everything
- Work ethic
- 💘 (different one)
- To thine own self be true
- Don't wanna change a thing, really... right now.
- Our comfort zone! Push the limits
- My self care
- The way that people interact with art!
- My inability to be vulnerable
- I want to make handmade, quality goods cool again
- Eat better
- Love myself more
- My underwear
- Habit
- Lose more control
- I am changing the way I view myself
- My mind
- Focus on myself and not compare myself to others
- Job
- Go Astros! 11-1-17
So regarding this conversation - the one at the kitchen table that I dream about - it seems to still remain internal for most.