3,700 artists sign letter opposing Christie’s AI art auction

• Christie’s is set to make history with its first-ever AI-generated art auction, “Augmented Intelligence.” The auction, which kicks off Feb. 20 online and with an exhibition in New York, will feature pieces valued between $10,000 and $250,000.
• More than 3,700 people have signed an open letter urging Christie’s to cancel the auction. They claim that many of the AI artworks were created using models trained on copyrighted work without permission.
• Christie’s defends the auction, stating that many featured artists use AI as a collaborative tool rather than a shortcut, emphasizing the artistry involved in “bending AI technology to their will.”

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Christie’s is making history with its first-ever auction of art created using artificial intelligence. But thousands of artists are pushing back, calling the sale an endorsement of unethical digital art practices.

The “Augmented Intelligence” auction will begin online Feb. 20, alongside an exhibition in New York. The value of the works is between $10,000 and $250,000.

But the event is facing major opposition. More than 3,700 people have signed an open letter urging Christie’s to cancel the auction.

The letter, addressed to Christie’s vice president and digital art sales manager, claims that many auctioned artworks were created using AI models trained on copyrighted works without permission.

“These models, and the companies behind them, exploit human artists, using their work without permission or payment to build commercial AI products that compete with them,” the letter states.

Artists question AI’s role in art

The collection features work from various AI artists, including the late Harold Cohen. Cohen, who passed away in 2016, was known for creating AARON, one of the first AI programs designed to generate art autonomously.

Christie’s defends the auction, stating that many featured artists use AI as a collaborative tool rather than a shortcut.

“AI art is so fascinating because you see artists bending the technology to their will,” said Sebastian Sanchez, Christie’s digital art manager. “They’re putting restraints in place, building parameters, and then letting AI run free within those boundaries.”

Some AI artists, like Mat Dryhurst, argue that the debate should focus on AI policy rather than individual artists.

“It is not illegal to use any model to create artwork,” Dryhurst told The Guardian. “I resent that an important debate that should be focused on companies and state policy is being focused on artists grappling with the technology of our time.”

Dryhurst was one of the first two digital artists invited to explore OpenAI’s DALL-E, a text-to-image AI tool.

The debate over AI-generated content extends beyond the fine art world.

In 2023, Hollywood writers called on major studios to combat AI plagiarism.

The music industry has also raised concerns. More than 200 artists, including Billie Eilish and Nicki Minaj, signed an open letter last April calling for protections against the “predatory use of AI” in music.

Legal battles over AI and copyright

Meanwhile, major AI companies are facing lawsuits over their use of copyrighted materials.

In 2023, a group of artists filed a class-action lawsuit against Stability AI, Midjourney and DeviantArt. They claim the companies trained AI models using billions of online images without obtaining consent from the original creators.

Last year, a federal judge ruled that certain copyright claims in the case could move forward. The outcome could shape future policies around AI-generated art and intellectual property rights.

The future of AI in art

For now, Christie’s AI art auction remains on schedule. But as AI continues to reshape creative industries, the conversation around ethics, copyright and artistic ownership is far from over.

While some industries push back, others are embracing AI and working to establish standards for its use.