"Human or artificial intelligence?": an empirical study of respondents' declared preferences in digital graphics

Currently, technologies based on the use of artificial intelligence are being integrated into most spheres of life in modern society, which determines the relevance of the research topic. The initial stages of this movement were associated with solving problems of optimizing routine processes, but recently there has been a tendency to introduce innovative neural network practices in such areas as culture and art, which were considered the prerogative of man. The purpose of this work is to experimentally identify respondents' declared preferences between digital graphic works created by humans and artificial intelligence. This will allow us to give an objective assessment of the potential of generative technologies, their ability to compete with copyrighted works, as well as the degree of influence on the vectors of further development of the field of artistic creativity and creative design. A target group of 62 respondents with artistic skills was formed for the empirical study. The data was collected based on the method of declared preferences using Google Forms. The methods of quantitative statistical analysis were used during the performance analysis stage. Currently, there are no formalized criteria for evaluating the quality of digital images. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that, based on the results of an analysis of the opinions of qualified survey participants, their emotional perception of artistic works and existing practical experience, the announced preferences between graphic works created by humans and artificial intelligence were determined for the first time. In general, respondents demonstrated a commitment to digital author projects with a score of 55.5% (the answer is "yes" – 20.3%, the answer is "rather yes" – 35.2%), while illustrations developed using generative technologies received 44.5% (the answer is "yes" – 13.5%, the answer is "rather yes" – 31.0%). The results obtained can be of theoretical and practical importance for artists and designers, researchers and teaching staff of educational institutions providing training in creative areas of training. A timely response to large-scale changes in society, when basic concepts of art are undergoing transformation, will allow rethinking the algorithms for creating digital graphic works and introducing new forms of organizing the creative process.

artificial intelligence, digital graphics, declared preferences, art, generative technologies, graphic design, neural network, standardized image, artistic creativity, creativity