From Hype to Reality: Artificial Intelligence in the Study of Art and Culture

Abstract

As technologies related to AI (artificial intelligence) are progressing intensively, the hype surrounding the acronym 'AI' have become an evolving but persistent phenomenon. However, the reality of working with AI technologies often remains distant from its idealized representation and involves many constraints and difficulties, which become particularly obvious in interdisciplinary research contexts. In recent years, the critical discourse on AI has also gained momentum, partly due to the increasing interest of scholars in the arts and humanities in exploring AI technologies and the implications of their widespread integration. This collection comprises short articles from scholars who undertook the challenging task of examining various aspects of AI in the context of art and culture. It combines approaches that explore how AI technologies can be applied to study art and culture, as well as how arts and humanities-based theories and methodologies contribute to contextualizing and critically assessing AI technologies. This volume consolidates contributions from scholars from diverse disciplines, including art history, media studies, philosophy, anthropology, digital humanities, and computer science. It offers a unique selection of insightful articles that provide valuable cross-disciplinary perspectives, fostering a deeper understanding of the dynamic intersection between AI, art, and culture.