LSUS Students Ponder AI’s Impact on Digital Arts

Source Domain: www.govtech.com

(TNS) — Ten seniors who just graduated from Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS) in digital arts are not only competing against other talented artists for jobs … they are also competing against AI.

How will cheap, or in many cases, free, AI graphics impact their job opportunities?

Google’s Gemini AI assistant answered that question, saying that artificial intelligence has “flooded the market with low-cost images” that will shift the role of artists from potentially drawing the graphics to creative direction.

That changing landscape is something LSUS instructors Jason Mackowiak, the chair of the Department of Arts and Media, and associate professor Allen Garcie wanted their most recent students to acknowledge.

The two admit that some students have strong feelings and an unwillingness to use AI in any form. The instructors have been trying to frame AI as just another tool, like Photoshop or Canva, which are widely used.

“I don’t want it (AI) winning awards over traditional art at Shreveport Regional Arts Council or the Bossier Arts Council locally,” said Mackowiak, but he believes that companies will be using it for graphics, logos and ad campaigns.

“I think the big companies are going to be the ones who are wanting the AI. They want it quick. They want it cheap, even though they have the money. I think our students are going to have to focus more on the local businesses that see the value in it (human-produced works),” Mackowiak said.

At an art showcase for graduating students, Lisa Marshall stood at a table with the items she had designed for St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Shreveport and other original art. Marshall is considered a “non-traditional student,” one who had a career before deciding to come back for more classes.

“Iron sharpens iron, you know, and you get better by placing yourself in the room with people that are better than you. That’s how you…

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