AI Generation vs Writing

[Tomkin Watts]

No... I didn't say it very well last night, and yes... my brain was more than a little addled last night after racing through an intense story about AIDS from start to finish in a 48 hour span--record time for me. Whew!

It would have been clearer if I'd  used "porn" and/or "smut" instead of "spicy--there's at least a little spiciness in most of my stories--at time a lot. It seems there is a progression running from porn, through a wide range of spiciness, ending up with excellent writing that grants us a privileged, intimate peek at the character(s), so intimate that it carries us off into a place we otherwise only know from within ourselves.

I wish I could write like that, but I keep trying. And I doubt AI could ever take us there.

 

But what I failed to say last night was that what you don't say is often more important than what you do say, especially in "good" writing about sex. The unsaid stimulates the brain and excites the reader's imagination. The meaning of sex, within the context of the story, is more important that the act itself. You modulate the detail to increase the intensity; the reader fills in the unsaid.

Case in point: In Jeff Burton's story, the kiss--and, oh yes, indeed--that "ass grab," between" Skylar and Gabriel.

The detail is only sparsely sketched out, but the feeling is intense. Boom! Like a shot across the bow, it cuts across the linear, inexorable forward motion of the story, generated by the sexual tension between Skylar and Ryan, that simmers beneath the surface from the very beginning. The contrapuntal, cross-current intensity of this scene grabs me--I can feel everything Skylar feels, both sensory and emotional. Little is said, but much more is left unsaid, and if that is spiciness, it is there, welling up, cutting deep.

Well done, Jeff!

Edited April 15 by Tomkin Watts

[William King]

These are all good points, but I wish you would reference what you are talking about, how do I find the Case in point: In Jeff Burton's story, the kiss--and, oh yes, indeed--that "ass grab," between" Skylar and Gabriel. If you don't link to it? I looked, but Jeff Burton has several stories. The same applies for @Jason Rimbaud if you don't point me to an example in your writing that represents what you are talking about, I just look at random or what?

I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with all of Jeff Burton's stories nor Jason Rimbaud's, examples with links are good.

[Davide]

10 hours ago, William King said:

These are all good points, but I wish you would reference what you are talking about, how do I find the Case in point: In Jeff Burton's story, the kiss--and, oh yes, indeed--that "ass grab," between" Skylar and Gabriel. If you don't link to it? I looked, but Jeff Burton has several stories. The same applies for @Jason Rimbaud if you don't point me to an example in your writing that represents what you are talking about, I just look at random or what?

I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with all of Jeff Burton's stories nor Jason Rimbaud's, examples with links are good.

The @Jeff Burton squote referenced on that post is from I'm Gay: A Nifty Story. As for sex scenes written by @Jason Rimbaud, you can find some in Frosted Hearts. But both of those stories have multiple chapters and I don't remember in which specific chapter things happen.

Edited April 16 by Davide

[Krista]

2 hours ago, Davide said:

The @Jeff Burton squote referenced on that post is from I'm Gay: A Nifty Story. As for sex scenes written by @Jason Rimbaud, you can find some in Frosted Hearts. But both of those stories have multiple chapters and I don't remember in which specific chapter things happen.

All the more reason to read both stories from start to finish.  

[Jason Rimbaud]

13 hours ago, William King said:

These are all good points, but I wish you would reference what you are talking about, how do I find the Case in point: In Jeff Burton's story, the kiss--and, oh yes, indeed--that "ass grab," between" Skylar and Gabriel. If you don't link to it? I looked, but Jeff Burton has several stories. The same applies for @Jason Rimbaud if you don't point me to an example in your writing that represents what you are talking about, I just look at random or what?

I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with all of Jeff Burton's stories nor Jason Rimbaud's, examples with links are good.

You can read Frosted Hearts, and I could give you a specific chapter, but due to the nature of Frosted Hearts, to understand the sex, which is almost a third character itself, you would have to read the whole story. 

I don't enjoy stories where the sex is more emotional than physical. Since a majority of my stories are about first time or the beginning of a relationship, the sex is always more physical. You don't reach emotional or intimacy until you've gone pretty far into the relationship.

And if the sex continues in my story past the first few weeks of their relationship, then slowly I'll introduce more emotion into the sex. But most of my stories takes place over a week to a few weeks in story time. So the sex tends to be exciting, physical, and raunchy. 

None of my characters sees stars or lose their breath as they stare lovingly in one another's eyes. Fireworks don't happen, just the "O" face. 

22 hours ago, Tomkin Watts said:

Boom! Like a shot across the bow, it cuts across the linear, inexorable forward motion of the story, generated by the sexual tension between Skylar and Ryan, that simmers beneath the surface from the very beginning. The contrapuntal, cross-current intensity of this scene grabs me--I can feel everything Skylar feels, both sensory and emotional. Little is said, but much more is left unsaid, and if that is spiciness, it is there, welling up, cutting deep.

This is not a dig against anyone's writings. 

This type of emotional feeling you described, is boring for me to read. So I don't write in that manner. I write good ole' fashioned "smut", "*orn", or "stroke stories", hopefully with some fun dialogue and interesting premise. 

The sex is always used to force the characters to change/grow/learn/ something. But since I don't believe in an emotional connection for sex, I don't write it. I am very connected to my husband, emotionally, sexually, and all other "ly" you can think of. 

But sex isn't the reason we are connected in that manner. It's our life together, the relationship of living day to day with each other. Sex is biological, not emotional for me. So it doesn't make sense to me when people write it in that manner. 

I can have mind blowing sex with anyone, and the moment I leave them, I am thinking about dinner, or the next thing on my list of things to do. It's a healthy, fun need humans have, but we place way to much importance on the act itself. 

And before anyone becomes angry and tells me where I am wrong. You do you, and I'll do me, and we can both be right for our own needs.  

[Jason Rimbaud]

3 hours ago, Davide said:

some in Frosted Hearts.

Some, I'd hate to see a story where you think a lot of sex happens! . 

[Davide]

Just now, Jason Rimbaud said:

Some, I'd hate to see a story where you think a lot of sex happens! . 

I almost said a lot, but I felt like that could be a spoiler, since it's not what I think people would expect after reading a chapter or two, so I undershot on purpose.

[Krista]

On 4/14/2026 at 12:15 AM, Topher Lydon said:

I'd actually be down for a writer's guide, or a simple lesson in how to write it. It's a big weakness in my writing and one hurdle I'd love to overcome. Finding a balance between prudishness and spicey

Sex is a tool, like any other device in writing. It can set the tone of the moment, the story entirely, or be nothing more than a fade to black. I do not write sex well, but I give it a good try in most of my longer stories as I've always felt with my slow-ish burn romances, they give me ample time to build up to them. So, I've felt mostly pressed to give the writing sex. 

Living where I have been for decades, in coming of age "first timers" it gives me an out to make sex clumsy, the characters unsure about what they're doing. Foals on new legs, so to speak. If it reads awkward, I say it is on purpose because they're not stepping onto paths they've walked before.  But yeah, I'd say it also reads awkward, because I'm awkwardly writing it in general. 

I would be interested in seeing what GA authors come up with as writing guides to sex scenes though. Would they make me blush? Would I have to put it down, clutch my pearls, and say.. "No I'm a lady, I shouldn't read this..."

I'm sure it will be educational, regardless... surely. 

We've gotten completely off topic, but this one is a better one anyway. 

Edited April 16 by Krista

[Jeff Burton]

8 hours ago, Davide said:

The @Jeff Burton squote referenced on that post is from I'm Gay: A Nifty Story. As for sex scenes written by @Jason Rimbaud, you can find some in Frosted Hearts. But both of those stories have multiple chapters and I don't remember in which specific chapter things happen.

The Saint Sebastian poster would combust and burn the house down if we did that.

It would take Father Matthew blessing the fire hydrants to create enough holy water to close the gates of hell that would have opened up on Skylar’s bed lmao.

[Jeff Burton]

18 hours ago, William King said:

These are all good points, but I wish you would reference what you are talking about, how do I find the Case in point: In Jeff Burton's story, the kiss--and, oh yes, indeed--that "ass grab," between" Skylar and Gabriel. If you don't link to it? I looked, but Jeff Burton has several stories. The same applies for @Jason Rimbaud if you don't point me to an example in your writing that represents what you are talking about, I just look at random or what?

I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with all of Jeff Burton's stories nor Jason Rimbaud's, examples with links are good.

The end of Chapter 5 (The beach episode) - I’m  Gay: A Nifty Story.  
 

I usually limit myself to soft core stuff lol.

[Jeff Burton]

5 hours ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

You can read Frosted Hearts, and I could give you a specific chapter, but due to the nature of Frosted Hearts, to understand the sex, which is almost a third character itself, you would have to read the whole story. 

I don't enjoy stories where the sex is more emotional than physical. Since a majority of my stories are about first time or the beginning of a relationship, the sex is always more physical. You don't reach emotional or intimacy until you've gone pretty far into the relationship.

And if the sex continues in my story past the first few weeks of their relationship, then slowly I'll introduce more emotion into the sex. But most of my stories takes place over a week to a few weeks in story time. So the sex tends to be exciting, physical, and raunchy. 

None of my characters sees stars or lose their breath as they stare lovingly in one another's eyes. Fireworks don't happen, just the "O" face. 

This is not a dig against anyone's writings. 

This type of emotional feeling you described, is boring for me to read. So I don't write in that manner. I write good ole' fashioned "smut", "*orn", or "stroke stories", hopefully with some fun dialogue and interesting premise. 

The sex is always used to force the characters to change/grow/learn/ something. But since I don't believe in an emotional connection for sex, I don't write it. I am very connected to my husband, emotionally, sexually, and all other "ly" you can think of. 

But sex isn't the reason we are connected in that manner. It's our life together, the relationship of living day to day with each other. Sex is biological, not emotional for me. So it doesn't make sense to me when people write it in that manner. 

I can have mind blowing sex with anyone, and the moment I leave them, I am thinking about dinner, or the next thing on my list of things to do. It's a healthy, fun need humans have, but we place way to much importance on the act itself. 

And before anyone becomes angry and tells me where I am wrong. You do you, and I'll do me, and we can both be right for our own needs.  

I’m kinda with Jason on this one, the first time I ever did it was awkward as hell and it wasn’t for love lmao.

 

 

[Jeff Burton]

32 minutes ago, Krista said:

Sex is a tool, like any other device in writing. It can set the tone of the moment, the story entirely, or be nothing more than a fade to black. I do not write sex well, but I give it a good try in most of my longer stories as I've always felt with my slow-ish burn romances, they give me ample time to build up to them. So, I've felt mostly pressed to give the writing sex. 

Living where I have been for decades, in coming of age "first timers" it gives me an out to make sex clumsy, the characters unsure about what they're doing. Foals on new legs, so to speak. If it reads awkward, I say it is on purpose because they're not stepping onto paths they've walked before.  But yeah, I'd say it also reads awkward, because I'm awkwardly writing it in general. 

I would be interested in seeing what GA authors come up with as writing guides to sex scenes though. Would they make me blush? Would I have to put it down, clutch my pearls, and say.. "No I'm a lady, I shouldn't read this..."

I'm sure it will be educational, regardless... surely. 

We've gotten completely off topic, but this one is a better one anyway. 

That seems to be what happens when me you and @Jason Rimbaud spend any amount of time together in a thread, it just goes sideways until we are on a new topic. 😂

[Krista]

2 hours ago, Jeff Burton said:

That seems to be what happens when me you and @Jason Rimbaud spend any amount of time together in a thread, it just goes sideways until we are on a new topic. 😂

Excuse you sir, I played no part in the derailment of this topic. I innocently logged in one evening and sex was everywhere. Just everywhere.

[Jeff Burton]

1 minute ago, Krista said:

Excuse you sir, I played no part in the derailment of this topic. I innocently logged in one evening and sex was everywhere. Just everywhere.

And you didn’t complain! In fact what did you call it?

Oh yes, this one is a better one anyway.

Despite you clutching your pearls for the public we all know you look to check to make sure no one else is looking when you look back and squint to make sure you didn’t miss any of the filthy bits. 

Our dear esteemed @Jason Rimbaud baits you with this on purpose, don’t think I didn’t notice. 

You’re just as bad as we are, except for maybe me since my filthy writing has limits to the point I should really get a strand of pearls to clutch, since I’m the innocent one. 😂

[Krista]

10 minutes ago, Jeff Burton said:

And you didn’t complain! In fact what did you call it?

Oh yes, this one is a better one anyway.

Despite you clutching your pearls for the public we all know you look to check to make sure no one else is looking when you look back and squint to make sure you didn’t miss any of the filthy bits. 

Our dear esteemed @Jason Rimbaud baits you with this on purpose, don’t think I didn’t notice. 

You’re just as bad as we are, except for maybe me since my filthy writing has limits to the point I should really get a strand of pearls to clutch, since I’m the innocent one. 😂

Don't loop my filth writing in with his, it would be an insult to his craft.  We are the pearl clutchers, he is the one making us clutch them. 

But yes, this topic is better than the original. For reasons, some obvious, some not. 

[Krista]

1 minute ago, Krista said:

Don't loop my filth writing in with his, it would be an insult to his craft.  We are the pearl clutchers, he is the one making us clutch them. 

But yes, this topic is better than the original. For reasons, some obvious, some not. 

And yes, I do try to sneak and read the filth and write it mind you, because I have a nosy husband and I really do not like hearing the words: "What in the world are you reading?" When he's glanced over my shoulder and seen exactly what I was reading... 

And we'll see which way Jason responds to this latest accusation, he mostly feigns innocence. I'm thinking 'feigns' is the correct term to use anyway. 

[Jeff Burton]

1 minute ago, Krista said:

And yes, I do try to sneak and read the filth and write it mind you, because I have a nosy husband and I really do not like hearing the words: "What in the world are you reading?" When he's glanced over my shoulder and seen exactly what I was reading... 

And we'll see which way Jason responds to this latest accusation, he mostly feigns innocence. I'm thinking 'feigns' is the correct term to use anyway. 

I lost it at “what in the world are you reading?” 😂

You would think he would have figured this out by now and would know better.  

[ReaderPaul]

Well, @Jeff Burton, @Krista, @Jason Rimbaud, @Tomkin Watts -- there are AIs which produce porn.  While I have no programming ability, and only a vague idea of what kind of prompts one might use, I read an article earlier today on Medium about the dangers of AI porn.  The main focus of the article seemed to be that real life humans cannot meet the perfection of AI produced porn, and that persons are already reading porn produced by AJI and watching AI produced porn and beginning to feel inferior to the "perfection" of the looks and the action of what might be termed "artificial" porn.  (My interpretation of what the article's author seemed to be saying.)   I am guessing that the same thing might be said of animated porn because extremes of personal and sexual perfection (as defined by some) can be generated as well in animation.

I wonder -- what might the rest of you think?

[lawfulneutralmage]

It is not only porn. Nearly all social media is a "my dog, my partner, my car, my house, my travels, my [put anything esle here]" pissing contest.

That is why it is depressing. Others are always more beautiful, better off, better [you get the idea].

AI now makes it "perfect". Just a step in the escalation process.

[Davide]

1 hour ago, ReaderPaul said:

Well, @Jeff Burton, @Krista, @Jason Rimbaud, @Tomkin Watts -- there are AIs which produce porn.  While I have no programming ability, and only a vague idea of what kind of prompts one might use, I read an article earlier today on Medium about the dangers of AI porn.  The main focus of the article seemed to be that real life humans cannot meet the perfection of AI produced porn, and that persons are already reading porn produced by AJI and watching AI produced porn and beginning to feel inferior to the "perfection" of the looks and the action of what might be termed "artificial" porn.  (My interpretation of what the article's author seemed to be saying.)   I am guessing that the same thing might be said of animated porn because extremes of personal and sexual perfection (as defined by some) can be generated as well in animation.

I wonder -- what might the rest of you think?

That can be a concern with AI, making it possible for people to get used to standards they can't reach. But it's not actually that different from human made porn. When the vast majority of people have sex, it's not going to reach what they see from professional porn actors. So I think AI just brings a new version of an already existing effect.

When you go to porn in writing, I think that's different. Perfect is boring, in my opinion. What I want to read is how the characters' personalities manifest through the sex. And maybe the emotions involved if they've been together for a while or maybe the clumsiness if one or both are new to sex. These are just examples, but I want the human element, not perfection.

I absolutely still don't like that AI porn, visual or written, exists, but I wouldn't even be interested in it.

Edited April 17 by Davide

[Davide]

4 hours ago, Jeff Burton said:

 I should really get a strand of pearls to clutch, since I’m the innocent one. 😂

😂

Says the guy wondering what's the colour of the alien's jizz in a certain story.

[Krista]

1 hour ago, ReaderPaul said:

Well, @Jeff Burton, @Krista, @Jason Rimbaud, @Tomkin Watts -- there are AIs which produce porn.  While I have no programming ability, and only a vague idea of what kind of prompts one might use, I read an article earlier today on Medium about the dangers of AI porn.  The main focus of the article seemed to be that real life humans cannot meet the perfection of AI produced porn, and that persons are already reading porn produced by AJI and watching AI produced porn and beginning to feel inferior to the "perfection" of the looks and the action of what might be termed "artificial" porn.  (My interpretation of what the article's author seemed to be saying.)   I am guessing that the same thing might be said of animated porn because extremes of personal and sexual perfection (as defined by some) can be generated as well in animation.

I wonder -- what might the rest of you think?

I don't like the idea of any of it. Like I said in earlier posts, I do not like the idea of AI taking away from creative spaces. That is a blanket statement for me to make, as it replaces people.

You can monetize fake music now, for streaming. Some platforms have restrictions, it has to be heavily human/organic manipulated before it could be considered for platform hosting and monetization on their platform. Others are more open to the idea of completely AI generated songs to be monetized and put on their platform. Or, you can do it yourself on your own website and people have to use their judgement if they wish to buy it or not. And there are numerous platforms out there. You can also get it licensed for use in film, videos/content creation, streaming, and video games/animation. 

So, it goes without saying that Digital art, production, and other creative spaces, even coding, can be replicated, mass produced via AI, and hindering organic slower creation in the process. 

What most people don't seem to realize is that restrictions with some platforms for us, aren't restrictive for everyone. There are plenty of AI's out there that are a lot less restrictive. What we've seen here is the tip. They're highly regulated. They're behind a paywall, if you wish to mass produce you have to do so via paying for those services, and since they are more public, their mass production capabilities are stifled. 

That doesn't hold true for more powerful AIs and their functionality and capabilities. Imagine a machine creating and cycling through hundreds of prompts, creating thousands of images. Nothing can compete with that and that's where we're heading. AI can even filter itself, say the prompt produces three to four hundred images of a certain prompt, you can then prompt it to eliminate based on certain prompt outcomes that got it slightly wrong. And it learns from that, just in case you wish to prompt similarly later, so that it gets it right more often. 

When it becomes more universally abundant then, like everything else it will become more difficult to determine what is organic and what is not. It has come a long way quickly. You can get around prompts that go haywire, even on the "free" janky services that used to give people seven fingers, or none at all. Produce prompts where everyone looked the same, despite prompting "group of friends," and so on. 

What I also fear is expectations. We see it all the time. We're fickle. Hollywood and main stream film has pretty much told us that we're only going to get Live Action remakes, sequels, and lackluster overtold stories in our films. We flock to them and make them billions, for almost scene for scene lifeless nonsense. Although the film industry at least in theatres are a waning industry, it is still dictating much of what's readily out there.

What AI will do, is make it easier to disregard expectations, lower our standards, and overlook the creative processes that didn't happen in the making of what we're consuming. Especially when it systematically doesn't give us much of a choice. And they're going to be doing it with a lot less organic control, and they're going to get richer in the process.

So no, I don't like it. It doesn't protect anyone, it could lead to easy exploitation. As for your question, specifically. No, I don't like it or feel comfortable with the idea. I was talking privately about it to someone the other evening. I do not want to get in-depth here, but it is a scary and hard pass for me, when it comes to that kind of content. Not because it creates unhealthy expectations, because there are a lot of things out there that gives unrealistic expectations and that industry 'always' has, to a point, done that. Same with Celebrity worship, photoshopping, filters, manipulations, and so on. This is just another cog in that machine, it's faster and can be more widespread, that's the difference. As a whole, I pass on that industry entirely, I have no use for it.

I do see the issues where people become so entangled with AI that they become addicted. Since 'that' industry is also already addictive, then it is just another layer on that as well.

The overall dependency AI is pressing home is what's scary to me. 

Edited April 17 by Krista

[ReaderPaul]

10 minutes ago, Krista said:

I don't like the idea of any of it. Like I said in earlier posts, I do not like the idea of AI taking away from creative spaces. That is a blanket statement for me to make, as it replaces people.

You can monetize fake music now, for streaming. Some platforms have restrictions, it has to be heavily human/organic manipulated before it could be considered for platform hosting and monetization on their platform. Others are more open to the idea of completely AI generated songs to be monetized and put on their platform. Or, you can do it yourself on your own website and people have to use their judgement if they wish to buy it or not. And there are numerous platforms out there. You can also get it licensed for use in film, videos/content creation, streaming, and video games/animation. 

So, it goes without saying that Digital art, production, and other creative spaces, even coding, can be replicated, mass produced via AI, and hindering organic slower creation in the process. 

What most people don't seem to realize is that restrictions with some platforms for us, aren't restrictive for everyone. There are plenty of AI's out there that are a lot less restrictive. What we've seen here is the tip. They're highly regulated. They're behind a paywall, if you wish to mass produce you have to do so via paying for those services, and since they are more public, their mass production capabilities are stifled. 

That doesn't hold true for more powerful AIs and their functionality and capabilities. Imagine a machine creating and cycling through hundreds of prompts, creating thousands of images. Nothing can compete with that and that's where we're heading. AI can even filter itself, say the prompt produces three to four hundred images of a certain prompt, you can then prompt it to eliminate based on certain prompt outcomes that got it slightly wrong. And it learns from that, just in case you wish to prompt similarly later, so that it gets it right more often. 

When it becomes more universally abundant then, like everything else it will become more difficult to determine what was organic and what is not. It has come a long way quickly. You can get around prompts that go haywire, even on the "free" janky services that used to give people seven fingers, or none at all. Produce prompts where everyone looked the same, despite prompting "group of friends," and so on. 

What I also fear is expectations. We see it all the time. We're fickle. Hollywood and main stream film has pretty much told us that we're only going to get Live Action remakes, sequels, and lackluster overtold stories in our films. We flock to them and make them billions, for almost scene for scene lifeless nonsense. Although the film industry at least in theatres are a waning industry, it is still dictating much of what's readily out there.

What AI will do, is make it easier to disregard expectations, lower our standards, and overlook the creative processes that didn't happen in the making of what we're consuming. Especially when it systematically doesn't give us much of a choice. And they're going to be doing it with a lot less organic control, and they're going to get richer in the process.

So no, I don't like it. It doesn't protect anyone, it could lead to easy exploitation. As for your question, specifically. No, I don't like it or feel comfortable with the idea. I was talking privately about it to someone the other evening. I do not want to get in-depth here, but it is a scary and hard pass for me, when it comes to that kind of content. Not because it creates unhealthy expectations, because there are a lot of things out there that gives unrealistic expectations and that industry 'always' has, to a point, done that. Same with Celebrity worship, photoshopping, filters, manipulations, and so on. This is just another cog in that machine, it's faster and can be more widespread, that's the difference. As a whole, I pass on that industry entirely, I have no use for it.

I do see the issues where people become so entangled with AI that they become addicted. Since 'that' industry is also already addictive, then it is just another layer on that as well.

The overall dependency AI is pressing home is what's scary to me. 

I agree, Krista.  Much of what you say I have seen in various forms in advertising and content creation already.   We have a long way to go in getting persons to recognize much of the dangers ultimately available now.  (I will try to get off my proverbial soapbox now.)

[lawfulneutralmage]

I already had a conversation where someone said: "Chat-GPT said [...]" *sigh*

 @Krista's post above triggered a question.

A friend of mine is a trained artist. When I once mentioned that I could never produce a painting like he did because I lacked the talent, he said, it was all about technique, that one can learn to paint like an impressionist, a Dutch Renaissance master, like ...

Because he was on about it "just being a technique", a statement I disagree with, as I have absolutely no talent in that direction, l wonder about this: is generating an image/song with AI using prompts not another form of technique? 

In a Star Trek TNG episode, I remember children being abducted and trained in their fields of talent. One had a tool, a matter generator which would read their mind and manifest their thoughts. Would that be art?

[Krista]

30 minutes ago, lawfulneutralmage said:

I already had a conversation where someone said: "Chat-GPT said [...]" *sigh*

 @Krista's post above triggered a question.

A friend of mine is a trained artist. When I once mentioned that I could never produce a painting like he did because I lacked the talent, he said, it was all about technique, that one can learn to paint like an impressionist, a Dutch Renaissance master, like ...

Because he was on about it "just being a technique", a statement I disagree with, as I have absolutely no talent in that direction, l wonder about this: is generating an image/song with AI using prompts not another form of technique? 

In a Star Trek TNG episode, I remember children being abducted and trained in their fields of talent. One had a tool, a matter generator which would read their mind and manifest their thoughts. Would that be art?

For me, it is a no. When you watch a Digital artist become completely obsolete, I cannot call it a technique. As it took that digital artist years to craft and hone their skill. They started out on simple mediums, grew their talent through failures, physically hundreds of hours. They shifted from paper/pencil sketching, to learning how to do it with digital brushes on a digital pad or screen. They learned color theory, they branched out, they were either self taught, or went to art school/programs. They were burdened by physical and mental limitations every step of the way. They had to sleep, eat, bathe, socialize, and feel the demands and pressure of living on this planet as a human being trying to create in a world that doesn't allow for many slow pastimes and hobbies.

Most importantly though through that time you create your own stylistic choices in the process, tendencies that you carry with you throughout your creative life. Something that when you look at the work you 'know' that it is your work no matter the medium. 

AI does all of that on its own and it does it like a factory printing operation that mass produces art in minutes. With none of the physical and mental demands.

The only technique you learn is how to optimize it and use other tools to manipulate it 'just enough' to then allow you to settle on the idea that it wasn't 100% AI generated. AI at its core, is the ultimate mimicry. 

I am not completely anti-progress, even with AI. I do not see this as progress though, I see it as replacement via convenience. Optimization and mass production over skilled labor intensive work. 

Edited April 17 by Krista