I've seen many, many projects displaying speeches about the Scratch AI situation, and I've decided to finally post my own thoughts. Before you start reading, please remember that just because I have an opinion doesn't mean that I'm trying to force it upon you. First of all, let's talk about what exactly is happening. Scratch is incorporating generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) into the Scratch system, using it as an alternative option for new scratchers to add graphics to their games and animations without having to spend hours drawing. It's easy to use and fast. Convenient. It also doesn't actually make art. Generative AI steals art from media tagged with words from the prompt it was given, to combine art that it does NOT have permission to use from artists that spend hours, days, even weeks or months on some pieces. With all this art theft, I'm sure you can see why online art communities dislike AI. Sure, it's a great tool, but that doesn't mean it should be used for everything. For example, you can store solid food in a jug, but it just comes out easier from a box. Everything man made has a purpose to fulfill, but creating art is not for AI. Now, I'd like to address the new scratchers and anyone who uses AI because they think their art is bad. The only way for someone to improve their art is by drawing, drawing, drawing. That one artist that you look up to and wish you could draw like? They probably have been drawing for years, potentially longer than you have as well as consistently. If you only use AI, then you don't gain skill in art and you lose the opportunity to offer to the world the artwork that you could've become famous for. Personally? I think AI is useful for small things like removing flecks left accidentally while drawing rather than generating the entire drawing, both due to quality of the results and the inevitable rage from online art communities.
