Reality Used To Be A Friend Of Mine

With Lines Blurrier Than Ever, Is It Real Or Is It AI?

THE VOICE THAT SHATTERED GLASS (ALL THINGS CONSIDERED 09.03.19)

When I made a montage of AI “fauxtos” last weekend, I was fully prepared for much pearl-clutching. There was very little. Only a handful of subscribers disliked the video and only a couple chimed in in the comments section.

In creative circles, AI-generated art (and music and photography and writing) is still a hot-button topic. Usually reasonable people quickly pop off and are ready to argue and fight about anyone using AI.

Like it or not, the reality is AI is not only here, but is being used by any and everyone to make things only “real” artists used to be able to do.

“We’re never going there. Creativity is made, not generated.”
James Cuda, Procreate CEO

Even acknowledging that AI is like Pandora—out of her box and not going back in—can lead to personal and professional fallout. In my opinion, it’s performative outrage at its worst. Creatives attacking other creatives over technology none of us created (but may be “based on” our work…and is therefore theft?) is something that’s better left to the courts than the court of public opinion.

My interest in (and concern about) AI is how the lines have become so blurry. And how more people either can’t tell the difference or don’t care.

The very real use of AI for misinformation and propaganda terrifies me.
And yet, for art and entertainment, I think it’s fun. Sometimes even hysterical.

As shown in last year’s Hollywood labor strikes, most people are too busy living their own lives, trying to survive themselves, to worry about how much a voice-over actor or screenwriter gets paid. Regardless of what you make, the same basic principle holds true for everyone from independent creatives and corporate studios.

The truth is there are too many albums, books, movies, podcasts, radio shows, tv series, and websites available for anyone to ever get “bored.”

There’s something for everyone, available 24/7/365.

Throughout history, as technology evolves, so does the audience.

Just in the 20th century we have switched our focus several times: from newspapers to movies to radio to television to cable television to video games to the internet.

And now that virtually everyone is online we can enjoy all types of media, across all our devices, on demand.

As someone who LOVES creating (and curating), I’m reminded of the “Is it live or is it Memorex?” ads and commercials from the 80s. They helped Ella Fitzgerald return to the spotlight. And sold a ton of blank tapes. Mixtape much? I know I did.

But now, the question isn't about whether something is live or recorded—it's whether it's human-made or AI-generated. And much like that Memorex campaign, the distinction might not matter to the average person consuming the content. They care about the end result, the feeling it evokes, not necessarily how it was made.

This blurring of lines raises an interesting challenge for creators like me. On one hand, I’m fascinated by the possibilities AI offers—the ability to push boundaries and explore new creative territories. On the other, I’m deeply aware of the ethical implications, the potential for devaluing human artistry, and the uneasy future it presents for creative professions.

What really hits home for me is how AI forces us to confront our relationship with reality. In an era where deepfakes can convincingly alter video footage and AI can generate entire symphonies, how do we maintain trust in what we see and hear? How do we preserve the authenticity that gives art its soul?

The truth is, we're already living in this blurred reality. AI isn't some far-off concept—it's here, and it's reshaping the creative landscape in ways we’re just beginning to understand. The real question now is how we, as creators, adapt.

Do we embrace AI as a tool, or do we resist it, clinging to the traditional notions of artistry that have defined our work for so long?

For me, the answer lies somewhere in between. I believe in the power of human creativity, but I’m also excited to see how AI can enhance, not replace, our artistic endeavors. The challenge is finding a balance, respecting the craft, and navigating this new world with a sense of purpose and integrity.

So, whether my next project is live, Memorex, or AI-generated, I’ll keep creating, curating, and questioning the reality we’re all a part of. Because in the end, what matters most isn’t how it’s made—but how it makes us feel.

Thanks for reading!
Clint

P.S. Like a lot of folks (gay guys in particular), I don’t like the sound of my own voice. So I’ve been trying out Text-To-Speech generators. Here are two of the latest. I’ll likely use one of them for a video I’m working on today. 🎙📺

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ADVENTURES IN CREATING AI MUSIC

Using an AI-generator and this prompt, I “wrote” a little ditty this morning:

PROMPT: A jazz piano bar song about reality used to be a friend of mine, but now you can’t believe everything you see or hear, but it’s okay as long as the art has heart. Or is at least smart. 

REALITY, OLD FRIEND
”by” Clint Collide

[Verse]
Reality, you were a friend of mine,
We'd sip on dreams, red vintage wine.
Now shadows dance where truths once stood,
And paint the night, misunderstood.

[Verse]
Through smoky bars and midnight blues,
Where lovers lie and hearts pick and choose,
Art raised a glass, a cheerful sound,
In smart disguise, fragile minds found.

[Chorus]
So let the notes play, let the feelings start,
If truth departs, may the heart be smart.
Reality may fade, twist and bend,
But art, my dear, will not pretend.

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ADVENTURES IN CURATING AI FAUXTOS

I didn’t have to look hard to find examples of inspiring AI fauxtos. Some of the most artistic and realistic examples I found are from is a Tumblr blog called Virtual Vanity:

I’m not sure I would have known any of these were AI-generated fauxtos if they hadn’t been labeled as such. I personally think they’re wonderful. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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