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Here's a recording of my talk on the role of computers in making art, including so-called "AI", which was presented as the opening keynote of SIGGRAPH 2025, incorporating lessons from the history of computer graphics, photography, modern art, and philosophy of art. www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2YR... 1/

A common misconception is that "a computer that makes high-quality pictures is an artist". But we have 60 years of experience of computer algorithms and tools that can make high-quality images. 3/

Plus seminal conceptual artworks like Sol LeWitt's "Wall Paintings" and John Baldessari's "Commissioned Paintings", where the artist didn't make the painting. 4/

Another common misconception I often hear is that "people are just computers." While this might theoretically be true in the sci-fi future, it is absolutely false for computers as we know them today. If not, why is it ok to wipe and destroy your own laptop, but not ok to kill people? 5/