The Intersection of AI and Visual Representations in Art and Mass Media

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we create and experience images. In AI SANDBOX: The Technique, Aesthetics & Ethics of AI Image Generation, David Blumenkrantz, Professor in the Journalism department at CSUN, invites readers into a thoughtful exploration of AI’s artistic potential and ethical dilemmas. This is not a technical manual; it is a critical, creative look at how AI image tools are redefining authorship, originality, and artistic collaboration.

Blumenkrantz, a journalist, photographer, and educator, traces AI’s evolution from its early days to today’s widely accessible platforms. Along the way, he tackles pressing questions, such as: 

• Is AI art “real” art?  

• What happens to the role of the artist when anyone can generate striking visuals with a few words?  

• How do we address the ethical costs and risk of misinformation that accompany this rapidly advancing technology? 

As the author reflects: “This eBook grew organically out of an interest in understanding the limitations and capabilities of AI image generation. As a lifetime photographer and a visual communication professor, I felt it was important to see how close AI images could get toward achieving photorealism; once I was satisfied with this, I began to branch off into other styles. It started as a very short presentation that I could use with my students but gradually expanded into an in-depth exploration.” 

David is currently working on a follow-up book titled, AI Images for Cool Cats.

For artists, educators, and anyone curious about the intersection of creativity and technology, AI SANDBOX: The Technique, Aesthetics & Ethics of AI Image Generation offers both practical insight and critical perspective.