[cbarrick]

It's funny hearing someone talk about "market segment" in art.

Blurring the line between gen AI and human painting definitely seems in line with the show. Especially since only a human can actually produce art with intent.

It doesn't look like AI because the artist wants to promote gen AI. It looks like gen AI because that's a way for the artist to comment on these issues. Being explicitly made by a human is an important part of that.

I don't see how that's at odds with Gilligan's disdain for gen AI. If anything, I see the piece as being well aligned with that.

[latexr]

> It's funny hearing someone talk about "market segment" in art.

Why? Art has a long tradition of being coupled with commerce. Michelangelo didn’t paint the Sistine Chapel for free. Social media is still full of artists open for commissions. Even Patreon creators have specific markets, the people who are interested in their work. There’s nothing odd or incongruent about it.

> It looks like gen AI because that's a way for the artist to comment on these issues.

I think you’re reading too much into it and inventing the symbolism. We don’t even know who the supposed artist is (we have a name but zero links for confirmation). The mistakes that let us know its AI are too subtle (package referencing incompatible types of milk, maze which goes nowhere) to communicate those ideas. Given the current climate and Gilligan’s outspokenness, I think it’d be doubly stupid if the alleged artist had tried to make that statement in such a way.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FauxSymbolism

All that said, we all have the incomplete history, so it’s at least possible that you’re correct (though I firmly believe you’re not) and we can’t know for sure without more information. I want to make it absolutely clear that when I use the word “stupid”, I’m referencing the actions of the people who would’ve followed the actions you describe, in no way is it pointed at you directly.