With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), especially creative bots, the concept of “creativity” has extended to machines. We thought it was impossible to credibly create a new work of art, but some robots have reached incredible levels, which force us to reflect further on our concept of artistic creation and ownership.

Here we will talk specifically about the creative capabilities of bots in web development.

What do we mean by creativity?

By “creativity” we mean the ability to produce original and relevant ideas or works, often in response to a specific problem or need. 

Generative AIs, such as creative bots based on deep learning algorithms, do not possess feelings or intuition, but they are able to recognize patterns and develop aesthetically pleasing content.

Some might consider this type of creativity a mere simulation. However, the ability of bots to create original works, such as images, texts or melodies, raises the issue to a different level. Even if they do not experience emotions, they are able to propose new combinations and variations that are surprising to those who observe them.

Case study: The algorithm behind the "Edmond de Belamy" painting series

A famous example of a creative bot is the GAN (Generative Adversarial Network) algorithm used by the French art collective Obvious to create the work “Portrait of Edmond de Belamy”, sold at auction by Christie's for over 400.000 dollars. 

The system was based on a database of over 15.000 portraits painted between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, allowing the algorithm to learn the characteristics and styles of traditional European paintings.

The algorithm used consists of two parts: the generator, which creates images, and the discriminator, which evaluates them by comparing them to the original input. 

Through an iterative process, the system progressively refines the generated image, until it is convincing enough to fool the discriminator. 

This type of technology has not only made it possible to obtain a seemingly human work, but has also raised important questions about what makes a work “authentic”. 

Many critics have clearly questioned the artistic value of a work created by a machine. Art - according to much of the common opinion and according to these critics - requires a human intentionality and sensitivity that machines cannot replicate. On the other hand, others argue that AI is nothing more than a tool, similar to a paintbrush or a camera, that is used by artists to express a creative vision.

Perhaps we are faced with a new form of creativity that, although devoid of intentions, still achieves an aesthetic and emotional result.

A central aspect of this debate also concerns the concept of originality. 

While AI can create unique works, they are based on a dataset of pre-existing works, raising questions about how “new” what AI creates really is. 

However, as the success of Edmond de Belamy demonstrates, there is a strong interest in this new type of artistic expression, which is already influencing the world of art and technology.

In summary: Bot creativity is a form of “algorithmic recombination,” a series of decisions made based on input data and statistical models. But the final work can be just as inspiring as a work produced by a human. 

Bot creativity and web development

Leaving aside the philosophical question for a moment, let's talk about web development. The design of web interfaces and applications can be partially delegated to bots. 

Creative bots can generate layouts, color schemes, and visual styles that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional based on user data. This process can lead to innovative design solutions that enhance the user experience (UX) in a personalized way.

Practical examples of use

DALL-E and Midjourney use AI to generate images and illustrations. These can be used as images that could previously be created by a human graphic designer. 

Or, creative bots can generate and test variations of an interface to identify the combinations that yield the best results in terms of conversions or engagement. This iterative approach enables continuous optimization of the design, dynamically adapting to user preferences.

The creativity of bots, as we clearly see from these practical applications, is not a competition with human creativity.

Rather, it represents a new resource.