The Reception of AI-Driven Art Content Among UPOU College Art Students

Abstract

In recent years, AI art generation tools have become increasingly accessible to the public, gaining significant traction on social media as the usage of these tools become widespread. As the University of the Philippines emphasized the importance of AI in societal development, it is crucial to understand how prospective users perceive this emerging technology. Even with institutional support, the effectiveness of promoting AI technology depends on the backing of its prospective users. UPOU students, in particular, have a distinct perspective due to their education being conducted primarily online.

The study sought to examine the unique perspectives of UPOU student artists regarding the rise of AI art generation tools. Specifically, it explored how these students have responded to AI art and its associated tools, including concerns about ethics, employment implications, and the lack of coverage in educational curricula due to the technology's recency. This exploration was conducted through an online survey designed to quantify the varying opinions of UPOU student artists.

The study then resulted in mapping out the degrees of acceptability of AI art and AI art generation tools in UPOU art students. Finding out that AI and its generation tools are largely within the 2nd negative degree of Acceptability “under the disagree degree of the Likert scale”.

However, the study noted that there was potential to improve this reception. While concerns about ethics and employment were viewed negatively, there was an opportunity to reposition AI art generation tools as a resource. By framing AI art and its tools as complements to, rather than replacements for, artists, a more positive perception can be fostered.