Absent Presence: The Human Influence in AI-Generated Content in the Age of Technoculture

Authors

Kathi Vosevich, Lindenwood UniversityFollow

Abstract

In recent years, the field of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly under the banner of generative AI (GAI), has made unprecedented advancements, pushing the boundaries of what was traditionally considered within the realm of human capability. AI systems have not only matched but also surpassed human proficiency in various tasks, sparking widespread discussions about their significant impact across multiple fields, including the arts and humanities. This paper considers the profound implications of AI's rapid progress and explores the concept of "Absent Presence" within the context of Derrida and Technoculture, particularly as illustrated in the arts and humanities. Drawing parallels with renowned literary and artistic works, such as Shakespeare's Winter's Tale, Sidney's Astrophil and Stella, and Lady Mary Wroth's Urania, the theme of absence and presence is examined in how the human actor is present even while absent, thus providing a metaphor to understand the role of human creativity in AI-generated content. Additionally, we consider the iconic empty chair paintings by Van Gogh as visual manifestation of human presence communicated without representing them. Furthermore, recent studies have unveiled the phenomenon known as Model Autophagy Disorder (MAD), highlighting the pivotal role of high-quality human-created content in AI training, as opposed to derivative AI-generated material. This discovery underscores the necessity of human input even in an era of AI-generated content, where an "Absent Presence" threads through the digital content. In this investigation, the discussion centers on the significant impact of human involvement within the realms of AI applications, even when such presence appears ostensibly absent. By examining this phenomenon through the arts and humanities perspective, the analysis brings to light the capacity for altering the terrain of innovation, understanding, and cooperation between humans and machines in these fields. The exploration emphasizes the intrinsic human element that pervades AI-driven environments, suggesting a reconfiguration of the creative, interpretive, and collaborative processes in these domains.

Recommended Citation

Vosevich, Kathi (2024) "Absent Presence: The Human Influence in AI-Generated Content in the Age of Technoculture," International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62608/2831-3550.1025
Available at: https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/ijedie/vol2/iss1/3