AI and Art

Imagine if a computer could help you paint a picture or create a song. That's what AI, or artificial intelligence, can do! AI is a type of technology that can learn and make decisions, almost like a person. Instead of just following instructions, AI looks at patterns and learns how to do things by itself. When we use AI to create art, it's like having a super-smart assistant that helps artists make something brand new. With AI art, a computer can help create images, music, or even animations.

One fun thing about AI art is that it works a little differently from the way a person might draw or paint. When an artist creates something, they use their imagination and skills to bring their ideas to life. With AI, the computer learns from tons of examples. For instance, if an artist wanted the AI to make a picture of a dog, they might show the AI hundreds of dog pictures. The AI looks at these pictures and learns what dogs usually look like. Then, it can create its own picture of a dog! Sometimes, it might make a dog that looks exactly like the real thing, and other times, it might make a funny, strange, or creative version of a dog that no one's ever seen before.

AI art can be a mix of human creativity and computer power. The artist decides what they want to make and gives the computer instructions, called a prompt, while the AI adds its own special twist. Artists like using AI because it can come up with unique ideas that no one has thought of before. It can also work really fast, which means artists can experiment with lots of different ideas in a short amount of time. But even though AI can help a lot, the computer doesn't have a mind like a person. It doesn't really "feel" or "imagine" things; it just follows the patterns it has learned. So artists still need to use their creativity to guide the AI and turn its ideas into art.

There are many types of AI art out there. Some artists use AI to make colorful paintings, while others use it to create patterns or designs. AI can even help to make music, combining different sounds into songs. In movies and video games, AI helps bring characters to life by animating them or giving them realistic actions. Some artists also use AI to make funny or strange pictures by mixing different objects, like combining a cat with a spaceship. Each time an artist uses AI, they are pushing the boundaries of what art can be.

For kids, learning about AI art can be a fun way to understand both technology and creativity. AI shows us that computers can do more than just math and science: They can help with creative projects, too. Trying out AI art tools is a great way to explore your artistic side while learning how AI works.

• Quick, Draw! This game lets you help to train a computer to recognize pictures. Draw what the game tells you to and see how fast the computer can guess what you're drawing!
• Craiyon: Type in what you want your picture to look like and the AI will draw nine different pieces of art based on your description.
• A Picture Book With No Artist Required: Time for Kids reports on a picture book that was made entirely with AI, including both the story and the pictures.
• AI Art Maker: Choose a subject, a verb, an object, a phrase describing the setting, and an art style. Then, let the AI put them together to make a picture.
• AutoDraw: Start drawing something, and the AI will try to guess what it is and finish the drawing for you.
• ColorifyAI Coloring Page Generator: You can make your own coloring book with this tool! Just type in what you want to color and the AI will make you a coloring page of it.
• Artbreeder Composer: Make your own AI art, then use the "Vary" button to see a bunch of ways that the AI can turn the same prompt into a different picture.
• ArtBot: Learn about how people train AI tools by playing this game, in which you need to train ArtBot to help you find stolen art. As ArtBot collects feedback, it can learn to identify art and find safe paths from one place to another.
• Tate Paint: This tool made by a museum in Britain lets you play around with different materials and make your own painting.
• Magic Mirror Paint: With this game, you can make art that mirrors itself!
• Paint 'n' Play: Try this fun tool made by the National Gallery of Art to create your own masterpieces.
• Sand Painting: Play around with different colors of virtual sand to experience making your own sand art without the mess.
• Color: How good are you at matching colors? Try this game to test your skills and find out.
• Molly's Beading Game: Create beaded designs with Molly of Denali in this game.
• Inspiral: If you've ever seen a Spirograph, you'll know how this works. Pick the discs you want to use, pick a color, and make cool spiral art!