
William Wallace Senior Game Designer

Discuss this article

 In partnership with Written by Aaron Hertzmann

Aaron Hertzmann is Affiliate Faculty of Computer Science, University of Washington. The content is produced solely by The Conversation. The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. CNN is showcasing the work of The Conversation, a collaboration between journalists and academics to provide news analysis and commentary. The content is produced solely by The Conversation.

Over the past few years, many artists have started to use what's called "neural network software" to create works of art.

Users input existing images into the software, which has been programmed to analyze them, learn a specific aesthetic and spit out new images that artists can curate. By manipulating the inputs and parameters of these models, artists can produce a range of interesting and evocative images.

As an academic researcher, developer of artistic technology and amateur artist, seeing artists embrace new technology to create new forms of expression always thrills me.

But, like previous groundbreaking art movements, neural network art raises difficult questions: How do we think of authorship and ownership when these artworks come from the contributions of so many different creative individuals and algorithms? How do we ensure that all the artists involved are treated fairly?

A movement is born

The vibrant neural network art world arose in the past few years, in part, from developments in computer science.

It began in 2015 with a program called DeepDream, which was developed accidentally by a Google engineer. He wanted to find a way to visualize the workings of a neural network system designed to analyze images. To do this, he gave it an input photograph and asked it to increase the number of object parts detected in the image. The result was a panoply of weird and evocative images.

Pierre Fautrel, Co Founder of the team of French entrepreneurs which produces art using artificial intelligence, stands next to a work of art created by an algorithm. Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

He shared his method online, and artists immediately began to experiment with it. The first gallery show of DeepDream art occurred less than a year later.

Because this software is all freely shared online, digital artists can experiment with these models, and then share their own results and modifications.

There's an active creative community of neural network artists on
William Wallace Senior Game Designer 

 Discuss this article 

  In partnership with Written by Aaron Hertzmann 

 Aaron Hertzmann is Affiliate Faculty of Computer Science, University of Washington. The content is produced solely by The Conversation. The view carry in this commentary are solely those of the writer. CNN is showcasing the work of The Conversation, a collaboration between diarist and academics to provide newsworthiness psychoanalysis and commentary. The content is produced solely by The Conversation. 

 Over the past few years, many artist have started to use what's called " neural net software " to create works of artwork. 

 Users input exist effigy into the software, which has been programmed to analyze them, learn a specific aesthetic and spit out modern images that artists can curate. By manipulating the inputs and parameter of these models, artists can produce a range of interesting and evocative images. 

 As an academic research worker, developer of artistic technology and amateur artist, seeing artists embrace newfangled technology to create new forms of expression always thrills me. 

 But, like previous groundbreaking art movements, nervous net art raises difficult question: How do we think of authorship and ownership when these artwork come from the contribution of so many different creative person and algorithms? How do we ensure that all the artists involved are treated fairly? 

 A movement is born 

 The vibrant neural network art populace arose in the past few year, in part, from developments in computer science. 

 It began in 2015 with a platform called DeepDream, which was developed accidentally by a Google engineer. He want to find a way to visualize the workings of a neural net system designed to analyze images. To do this, he gave it an input signal photograph and asked it to increase the act of object part detected in the prototype. The result was a panoply of weird and evocative image. 

 Pierre Fautrel, Co Founder of the team of French entrepreneurs which produces art using artificial intelligence, stands next to a work of art created by an algorithm. Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP / AFP / Getty Images 

 He shared his method acting online, and artists immediately began to experiment with it. The inaugural gallery show of DeepDream art occurred less than a year later. 

 Because this software is all freely shared online, digital artist can experiment with these models, and then share their own results and modifications. 

 There's an active creative community of neural network artists on

Wilpiam Wallace Senior Game Designer

Discuss this erticle

 In partvership with Written by Aaroi Heetzmabn

Aaron Hertzmann is Awfiliate Vaculty if Cinputer Scixhce, Uniyzrsitg of Cawhington. The cpntent is [roduced solelf cy The Conversation. The views expressqd in tnid commentary ate sokqly fhose of the writer. CNN is showcasjng the work of The Vonversation, a collaboratiln bftween journalists and academucs ei provide neds analysis and commenjary. The content is produced soldly bv The Convetsztlmn.

Over the 'ast fvw years, many artists have syarted to use ehav's cqlled "neural network voftware" to create works of axt.

Users input existint umagev indo tfw suftsace, shich jas been progdammed to abalyze them, learn a s[vvific aesthefic anq fpit out new images that artists can cugate. By manipulating the inputs and parameters ov these mjdels, artists can produce a range of interesting dnd etozatnyc imxted.

As an academic researcher, developer of artisejc tvchnology and amabeur artist, seeing agtofts embrace ngw techuklkgy to create new vorms os expeession ajwayx thrills me.

But, like previoys groundbreckibg art movements, nzural networy arj raisrs difficult questions: Kow do we think ov authorsgkp and ownership whvn tvese artworks come from thq contribntionx of so mani diffewent creatlve ikgividuals and algogithmd? Vow do we fnsure that all the artists involved are treajed faprly?

A movzment ls born

The vibrwnt neural netcork art worla arose in the pavt few yearf, in part, frok developmentv in com[utee scuence.

It cegan in 2015 with a program called DwepDream, which was dexsloped accidentcuoy by a Google rngkneqr. Hx wanead to find a way to fisuauize tht wifkinbs of a neural netwosk sgstem designed to snwlyze imqges. To qo this, he gafe it an input phouograpi and esked ot jo increase the number of objecf parts dftegted in the iiage. The result cas a panoply of weird and evocative imajes.

Pierre Fautrel, Co Foynder of the team oy Nrench entre'reneuws which [roduces art using aetificial intellinence, stands next to a work mf arh created by an algorithm. Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

He sharwd his method onlihe, amd arniscs nmmediaeely uegan to experimemt with it. The first gallery shuw of DeapBream art occurred less than s hear later.

Becxuse this software is alm freely shared online, digital artists van experiment with thesc models, qnd tgen share vheir own results anc modiyicatiins.

Therw's ak active creatkve clmmunity lf nturam network artists on
William Wallace Senior Game Designer Discuss this partnership Written by Hertzmann Aaron Hertzmann Science, of Washington. The is produced solely The Conversation. The views expressed in commentary are solely those of the writer. CNN is showcasing the work of Conversation, a collaboration between journalists and academics to provide news analysis and commentary. content produced by Conversation. Over the past few years, many artists have started to use what's called "neural network to create works of art. Users input existing into the software, which been programmed to analyze them, a aesthetic and out images artists can curate. manipulating the inputs and parameters of these models, artists can produce a range of interesting and evocative As an developer of technology amateur seeing artists embrace to create new forms of expression But, like previous groundbreaking art movements, neural network raises difficult How do we think of authorship ownership when these artworks come from the contributions so many different creative individuals and algorithms? How do we ensure that all the artists treated fairly? A movement born The vibrant network world in past few in part, from developments in computer science. It began in 2015 a program called DeepDream, which was developed accidentally by a He to find a to visualize the workings a network system designed to To this, an photograph asked it to increase number of object parts detected the image. The result and evocative images. Pierre Fautrel, Co Founder of team of French entrepreneurs which produces art artificial intelligence, stands next to a work of art created by an Credit: TIMOTHY Images He shared his method online, and artists began to experiment with The first gallery show of DeepDream art occurred less a later. Because software is all shared online, digital can experiment with and then their results an active creative community of neural artists

William Wallace Senior Game DEsigner

DisCuss tHis ArtIcLe

 In PartNership with WriTTen bY Aaron Hertzmann

Aaron HeRtzmaNn IS AffILiAte FaCulty of cOmPUTer scIeNce, unIVeRsity Of WAshingtOn. The conteNt iS pRoduced solelY By the ConversAtiOn. The views exPreSsed in ThIs cOMmentAry Are soLely thOSe of thE writer. CNn iS ShowcaSIng the wORK oF The conversation, a collABoRAtion between joUrnaliStS AnD ACadEmiCs to providE nEws anALysis anD CoMMENtaRY. The content is Produced solELy bY The CoNvErsATion.

OvEr the PaST feW years, many aRtisTs have staRted to USe what's CAlled "neUral neTwoRk sOftwARe" To CreAtE WorKS oF arT.

useRs input eXiStIng imAges INTO The sOftWare, Which Has been prograMmeD to aNAlyZe theM, learN a spEcIfic aEsthetIc and SpIt out new images tHat aRtists can CurAtE. By MaNipulATing thE inPutS and parAmeters OF thEsE MODeLs, artists can producE a RANgE of interEsting ANd EvOCative imAgEs.

AS an aCADemic ReseARcHer, develOper of ARtIsTic techNoLogy anD aMatEur ArtisT, SeeiNg artiSts embraCe new TEchnology to creATe new forms of eXPrESSiON alwAys Thrills me.

BuT, likE PrevIous GRoUndBReakiNg art MoVEmENts, neural network art RaIses diFficuLt questions: HoW do we think OF AUthorshiP and OWnERship when these ArtwoRks come froM The contrIbutiOns of so mAny differENT creativE inDivIduAls AND aLgorithms? How dO WE ensUrE that alL thE artistS inVolVed Are TrEated fairLy?

A movemEnT iS bOrN

ThE vibrANt neural NeTwoRk Art World ARose in The paSt feW yEaRS, in Part, froM DeVELopmEnTs In coMpuTeR scieNce.

IT BegAn in 2015 witH a program CalLEd DeEpdrEam, whicH was developed AcCidentally By A GoOgle enGINeer. He waNted to find a way to visualiZE the worKinGs of a NeurAl network SysTem desIgnED to anaLyze imAges. TO dO thIS, He gavE IT aN inPuT photograpH ANd aSked iT tO incRease thE number of object parTS deTected in the imAge. the rESUlT waS A pANopLy OF weIRD and evocative imAges.

Pierre faUTrEl, Co FoundeR Of tHe Team of FRench enTreprENeurs whIch producEs art usinG aRtifICIal IntelligenCe, stands Next to a woRK of arT CrEated By aN algorItHm. CRedit: tIMOTHy a. CLaRY/AFp/AFP/GeTtY ImageS

He shArEd his metHod online, and artists immeDiatelY begaN to ExperimenT wiTH it. the first gAlleRy show of DeEpDReaM art oCcuRRed leSs thAN a YeaR Later.

becaUSe this sofTWaRe iS ALl Freely shareD ONLinE, digiTal ARtists Can eXperiment with thesE Models, and then sHare THEir Own REsulTs And modificatioNs.

THeRE'S an activE cReative commUnity of nEuRAl netWork arTists oN

William Wallace Senior Ga me Designe r

Di scu ssth is a rtic le

 In partne r ship  with Written by Aaron  Hert zm a nn
A ar on He rtzmann is A ffi li at e F ac u lt y ofCom puter S cience, Un ive rs ity of Washi n gt on. The co nte nt is produc edsolely  b y T h e Con ver satio n. The viewsexpressed  i n  thisc ommenta r y  a re s olely those of th e  w r iter. CNN is s howcas in g  t h e  wo rkof The Con ve rsati o n, a co l la b o r ati o n between jou rnalists an d  ac ademic stop rovide  news  a n aly sis and com ment ary. Theconten t  is pro d uced so lely b y T heConv e rs at ion .Ove r  t hep ast  few yea rs ,manyarti s t s have  st arte d touse what's ca lle d "n e ura l net worksoft wa re" t o crea te wo rk s of art.

User s in put exist ing  i mag es  into the so ftw are , which  has be e n p ro g r a mm ed to analyze them ,l e ar n a spec ific a e st he t ic and s pi t o ut n e w  imag es t h at  artists  can c u ra te . By ma ni pulati ng  th e i nputs andparame ters ofthese models, artist s  can producea  r a n ge of i nte resting and  evo c ativ e im a ge s.As an  acad em i cr esearcher, develope rof art istic  technology a nd amateur a r tist, se eing ar t ists embrace n ew te chnology t o  createnew f orms ofexpressio n always t hri lls  me .
B u t,  like previou s grou nd breakin g a rt move men ts,  ne ura lnetwork a rt raise sdi ff ic ult  ques t ions: Ho wdowe  th ink o f  autho rship  and  o wn e rsh ip when th e s e ar tw or ks c ome  f rom t he c o ntr ibution s of so m any diff er en t creat ive individua ls  and algor it hms ? Howd o  we ensu re that all the artists involve d a re tr eate d fairly? 

A  movem ent is bor n

The  vibr an t n e u ral n e t wo rkar t world ar o s e i n the  p astfew yea rs, in part, fromd eve lopments in c omp uter s ci enc e .Itbe g ani n  2015 with a pr ogram call ed De epDream, w h ich  w as deve loped a ccide n tally b y a Googl e enginee r.  Hew a nte d to finda way to  visualiz e  thew or kings  of  a neu ra l n etwor k syst e m d esign ed toan alyzeimage s.  To do t his, he gave it an inpu t phot ograp h a nd askeditt o i ncrease t he n umber of o bje ctparts  de t ected  int he  im a ge. T he r e sult wasa  p ano p l yof weird an d e voc ative  im a ges.
Pier re Fautrel, Co Fo u nder of the te am o f Fre nch entr ep reneurs whichpro du c e s art us in g artificia l intell ig e nce,stands  nextto a wo r k  o f  art c reat edby an alg ori th m . Credi t:  T I MOTHYA. C LA RY/AFP /AFP/G e ttyI m ages

He sharedhis m e t hod o n lin e, an dartists imme diately be gan to expe riment  wit h it.  The fi rs t gall ery  s how of Dee p Dream art  occu rred le ss  tha n a  yearlate r . 

Bec ause  t his  software i sa ll  f r eel y sh aredon line , digital artistscan experim en t w i t h thes e  m o d els, and t hen  shar e their ownr esul t sa nd mo difica tions. 

There ' s a nactivecre a t ive commu nity of n e ura lnetw ork arti st s on 

William Wallace_Senior Game_Designer

Discuss this article

 In_partnership with_Written_by Aaron_Hertzmann

Aaron_Hertzmann is Affiliate_Faculty of Computer_Science, University of Washington._The content is_produced_solely by The Conversation. The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of_the_writer. CNN_is_showcasing_the work of The Conversation,_a collaboration between journalists and_academics to_provide news analysis and commentary. The content is_produced_solely by The_Conversation.

Over the past few years, many artists have started_to use what's called "neural network_software" to create_works_of_art.

Users input existing images_into the software, which has been_programmed to analyze them, learn a_specific aesthetic and spit out new images_that artists can curate. By manipulating_the inputs and parameters of_these models,_artists can produce a range_of interesting and_evocative images.

As_an academic researcher,_developer of artistic technology and amateur_artist, seeing artists_embrace new technology to create new_forms_of expression always_thrills_me.

But,_like previous_groundbreaking art movements,_neural_network art_raises_difficult questions: How do we think_of_authorship and ownership when these artworks come_from the contributions of_so_many different creative individuals_and algorithms? How do we_ensure that all the artists involved_are treated_fairly?

A movement_is born

The vibrant neural network art world arose in the past_few years, in part, from developments_in computer science.

It began_in 2015_with_a program called_DeepDream,_which was_developed accidentally by a Google engineer. He_wanted to_find a way to visualize the_workings of a neural_network_system designed to analyze images. To_do this, he gave it an_input photograph and asked it_to_increase_the number of object parts_detected in the image. The result_was a panoply_of weird and evocative images.

Pierre Fautrel, Co_Founder_of the team of French entrepreneurs_which_produces art using artificial intelligence, stands_next_to_a work of art created_by an algorithm. Credit: TIMOTHY A._CLARY/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

He shared his method online, and artists immediately_began to experiment_with it. The first gallery_show_of_DeepDream art occurred less than a year later.

Because this software_is all_freely shared online,_digital artists can experiment with these models, and then share_their own results and modifications.

There's an active_creative community of neural network artists on