The Pioneer of AI Art: Meet Aaron, the First Computer Artist

Artificial intelligence and art have been interwoven for longer than many might think. Far from being a recent phenomenon, AI-generated art’s journey travels back to the “computer stone age” of the 1960s. This was when Harold Cohen, an artist intrigued by the possibilities of technology, began exploring the frontier of computer-generated art.

Harold Cohen posed the thought-provoking question, “What is the minimum condition under which a set of marks functions as an image?” This inquiry led him to develop Aaron, a groundbreaking program that would spend decades evolving under Cohen’s guidance until his death in 2016. Unlike today’s AI, which often relies on manipulating existing images, Aaron was a true original, creating art from a blank slate. Its somewhat abstract yet undeniably coherent and visually appealing creations showcased the untapped potential of computers as creators of art.

Aaron’s legacy lives on, and its fascinating body of work can be viewed at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York until June 2024. This exhibit offers a unique glimpse into the early days of AI art, showcasing how Aaron drew believable, compelling art from scratch without the need for pre-existing images or inspiration from the physical world. It’s a testament to Cohen’s vision and the enduring intrigue of AI’s creative capabilities.