Chinese AI art contest woos creative ideas

The second Global AI Art Competition (GAAC) was inaugurated in Beijing Tuesday, open to creative ideas and solutions empowered by artificial intelligence (AI) from around the world to vie for the top prize.

"AI leads modern technological evolution, and creativity drives cultural development. When the two encounter, mind-boggling works will be created," said Hu Yu, executive dean of the Institute for Cultural Creativity with Tsinghua University. "The competition will serve as a platform to showcase such works."

Individuals and group competitors across the world can submit their AI creative works online in forms such as fine arts, music, literature, film, architecture and fashion design, before February 2020, according to the organizer.

"We value the works that express creative ideas by dint of technology and that solve real problems we face in life," said Hu, also executive director of the GAAC Organizing Committee.

Outstanding artworks will not only be awarded but also recommended to possible patrons, such as government-sponsored cultural industrial parks and major enterprises for efficient commercialization.

At Tuesday's ceremony, winners of the competition in 2018 were also granted their awards.

The last competition received around 140 pieces of artworks from competitors from countries and regions including China, the United States and Italy, the organizer said.

Sixteen award-winning artworks include the project of AI-assisted music creation, a painting robotic application, and an architecture project with building materials tailor made with AI.

The competition was jointly launched by Tsinghua University, art critique and consulting website Ping99 and Innovation Angel Funds.