Artificial intelligence and computational creativity: The role of the artist in the posthumanist era

Abstract

This article analyzes the ontological and practical reconfiguration that artistic creation is undergoing due to the advent of artificial intelligence. The central thesis argues that the integration of algorithmic systems into art is not merely instrumental but rather shifts the figure of the artist from classical conceptions (divine inspiration, exceptional genius, and subjective expression) toward a new role as designer of generative ecologies. In this posthumanist scenario, authorship ceases to be the exclusive domain of the human subject, becoming instead a distributed, hybrid, and collaborative competence, where the artist acts as a mediator and curator of stochastic processes.

The argument unfolds through a historical overview that begins by examining the foundational myths of artistic creativity, which placed art outside the realm of reason. This view is contrasted with the secularization subsequently promoted by psychology and neuroscience, disciplines that enabled the objectification of creativity by understanding it as a complex, modelable, and measurable cognitive process.

Building on this scientific foundation, the text incorporates theoretical models from cognitive science to distinguish three forms of creativity: combinational, exploratory, and transformational. It argues that, thanks to advances in machine learning and deep neural networks, current artificial intelligence has transcended the rigid execution of predefined rules. Contemporary systems now possess a technical autonomy that allows them to generate novelty through the combination and exploration of latent spaces. However, it is observed that machines still lack the intentionality necessary to achieve full transformational creativity, capable of altering cultural paradigms of meaning.

The discussion concludes by analyzing how this technical landscape redefines artistic practice. It posits that art is shifting from the production and execution of the work toward a logic of selection and curation. In what is termed "artificial aesthetics," creative value no longer resides solely in the artist's action, but rather in their capacity to generate and select algorithmic results. Furthermore, a co-creation emerges where the authenticity of the work arises from the situated dialogue between human instruction and the machine's interpretation.

In conclusion, the article posits that the posthuman artist abandons direct execution to become an architect of decisions. This transformation does not render humanity obsolete but rather compels us to redefine our creative identity not as an isolated essence, but as a power that evolves and expands in symbiosis with technology.