Filmmaker Paul Barasa’s ‘Art Born of Silicon’ delves into the distinction between artificial intelligence and human creativity. This short documentary makes the viewer question – if AI can imitate art, can it ever truly be honest art?
The film introduces us to a lineup of artists, each bringing their perspective. Illustrator Maegan Bertran sees art as an act of creation, not just the end result. Musician Angelo Leo, whose own compositions is showcased in the film, along with writer/director Marc Jure and upcoming actor Daniel Oluwayomi, are put to the test. Given AI-generated illustrations side by side with man-made works, they must determine which is which. Interesting, in a prior study, even Yale students could only guess correctly 54% of the time.
Cinematographer Dhruv Gajjar ensures that the film focuses on the moments of deep contemplation as our subjects wrestle with the challenge. The pacing is on-point, the premise internesting, and the film never keeps you hovering. It’s an accessible, engaging short – smart without being pretentious, timely without feeling like a knee jerk reaction to AI phenonmenon.
What ‘Art Born of Silicon’ ultimately reveals is not just the uncanny mimicry of AI, but the very human desire to define, protect, and defend the ineffable essence of creativity. The film is a mirror, forcing us to confront the unsettling question: If we can’t tell the difference, does the difference even matter? A striking and necessary documentary for an era hurtling toward an uncertain digital future. Facinating and insightful. A worthwhile watch.
