Recently, there have been intense discussions about the essence of AI, particularly within the cutting-edge domains of text-to-text and text-to-image systems. Esteemed minds consistently share their thoughts on where AI stands now and where it might be headed. However, the rapid progress in AI fields makes it incredibly challenging for a human to keep pace. It may very well require an AI system itself to thoroughly explore the crucial aspects of this subject.
I have neither the aspirations nor the expertise to participate in the discussions of these distinguished experts. Instead, this serves as my humble reflection, coming from the perspective of an enthusiastic neophyte who uses one of today's leading AI platforms: Midjourney and ChatGPT. My journey begins with a longstanding history in photography and digital images manipulation, supported by an educational foundation in physics, math, and engineering, alongside a self-cultivated grounding in the liberal arts, particularly inclined towards belle letters. This blend of experiences has strongly influenced how I view the AI tools I have at my disposal. I make no claim that my perspective is universal, or even definitively accurate, if such a perspective can indeed be presented.
For around six months, I've immersed myself in using both tools. Some of the outcomes of my efforts, featured within this blog, might offer a clear peek into my creative process i.e. of 'what' I am doing with the tools. However, when faced with the question of 'why' I am doing it, asked by others or even by my own self-reflection, I find myself unable to give a definite answer. Clearly, I'm not pursuing this for practical or financial gain. Undeniably, I take immense pleasure in this pursuit, but that's as far as my explanation goes, and this unanswered question bothers me.
Almost every day, I come up with resolutions that, though sincere, turn out to be fleeting. This quest, in and of itself, is an engaging intellectual adventure, compelling me to voraciously consume and analyze a wide range of information across various fields of knowledge, and engage in deep conversations with ChatGPT. Astonishingly, I've discovered these exchanges to be more fruitful than those with the humans accessible to me.
And here I am, sharing how I currently perceive creation of compelling AI-enhanced images.
So far, I have managed to come up with a list of the current reasons 'why' I am doing it:
1. Addiction to achieving compelling results much faster compared to any other art forms I am practicing
2. Aesthetic pleasure in generating compelling images
3. Intellectual enjoyment that comes from playing with words using loose rules, often leading to unexpected and exciting results.
4. Art Therapy Practice.
5. Having my personal 'museum on demand', that is always accesible
6. Opportunity to simultaneously utilize my skills, this spans fields that previously appeared unrelated to me.
7. Appreciation of people whoes views I value
8. And finally - its uselessness; as Oscar Wilde once coined 'We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely. All art is quite useless.'
Upon assembling this list and examining it, something struck me - "Wait a minute, isn't this a vague description of the reasons Castalians played The Game?” I'm referring to The Glass Beads Game described in 'The Glass Beads Game' by Herman Hesse.
Just in case if you never heard of it "The Glass Bead Game" by Herman Hesse was first published in 1943 in Switzerland. It stands out as one of Hermann Hesse's more overtly speculative and intellectually complex works. Hesse was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1946, "The Glass Bead Game" were a significant factor in him being awarded the prize.
The novel is set in a distant future where society is organized around intellectual and aesthetic pursuits. The central focus of this society is the titular game, that combines elements of music, mathematics, philosophy, and art. The novel explores themes of individualism, intellectualism, and the search for higher meaning. In the book, Hesse deliberately described the game (also known as "Magister Ludi") in abstract and symbolic terms, leaving many details open to interpretation, allowing readers to imagine it in their own way.
This is how one (myself included) may interpret the Game:
Players:
The game is typically played by highly educated individuals, known as Castalians.
Components:
It involves the use of special symbols, often represented by 'glass beads', which are arranged to create complex patterns and structures on the 'board'. Each symbol likely represents a concept or idea from various fields of knowledge. No specific detail regarding 'beads' and 'board' was provided, the terms serve rather as methaphors of the actual devices. However, during the game the players were 'observing the evolving patterns' of the 'beads' composition, that implies that the 'beads' and the 'board' were not just neutral pieces of material but highly advanced devices that contained/could access vast arrays of information and could interact with each other. One has to keep in mind that Hesse envisioned the Game in early 40s, he could not possibly provide even fictional details about the Game specifics as the first electronic computers (possible potential candidates for the game components prototypes) appeared in late 40s and were a far cry from modern devices. Hesse's focus was on the conceptual and symbolic aspects of the Game rather than the physical manipulation of 'beads'.
Integration of Knowledge:
The game involves integrating knowledge from a wide range of disciplines including mathematics, music, philosophy, literature, and more. Players use 'beads' to explore the relationships and connections between these different fields.
Goal and Purpose:
The primary purpose of the game is intellectual and artistic. It serves as a means for players to explore and express complex ideas, often in abstract and symbolic ways.
The goal is to achieve a sense of visual harmony and aesthetic beauty in the arrangement of the 'beads'. The patterns created should be aesthetically pleasing and intellectually stimulating. Watching the "visual poem" would involve observing the evolving patterns and contemplating the meaning and connections behind them. The patterns created would serve as a visual representation of the synthesis of knowledge from diverse fields. It's a way of exploring the relationships between seemingly unrelated concepts.
"The Glass Bead Game" was written in a very different technological context, and Hesse's intentions were likely focused on broader philosophical and intellectual themes rather than specific predictions about AI. Nonetheless, the novel's themes could be a fertile ground for discussions about the role of advanced technology in shaping the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. It may be interpreted and discussed in the context of the AI era and the potential implications of advanced technology on intellectual pursuits.
To my surprise I was not able to find any meaningful discussion on Hesse's role as a prominent AI visioner. It might be that there is none. I suspect that as leading AI developers mostly belong to the 20-40 years old generation they might never heard of him. The novel is not easy to read because of its dense and introspective style, as well as its philosophical themes. People who enjoy this book are usually scholars who study philosophy and related subjects, rather than scientists and technocrats. Also, it's quite long and the way the story is told might need more attention. Or might be its time does not come yet.
