Keni L. (Grade 12) has earned an Award of Distinction in the University of Alberta's ShowOff! Competition and Exhibition for her animated film, ARTificial Intelligence, which explores the implications and ethics of AI-generated art.
Inspired by her experiences as a young artist, Keni hopes to address the rise of AI-created art and the troubling trend of profiting from artwork that mimics or borrows from others' creations.
"Art doesn't just look good," she explains. "There's an impact; it looks the way it does for a reason, and AI art misses that entirely."
In ARTificial Intelligence, the two robots contrast authentic and artificial creation. The blue robot—symbolizing original art—is designed with soft, organic lines, colours inspired by a popular drawing program, and a dedicated space to draw. The green robot—representing AI—is geometric and mechanical and operates solely through typed prompts.
Keni's technique shines through every frame. Shading, lighting, post-processing, and music (a skill she picked up during digital recording with Mr. David Noble) are all carefully layered into the one-and-a-half-minute video. This effort took six months to complete. "I wanted ownership of the entire thing," she says.
She credits her art teacher, Mrs. Rhonda Laurie, for her unwavering support. "I'm very grateful."
For her achievement, Keni earned a $750 contribution to Meadowridge School's visual arts program and an iPad for her own use. Beyond ShowOff!, she's also a finalist in a national arts competition, which could award her a scholarship to pursue post-secondary studies in the arts.
[Watch ARTificial Intelligence]
