Emotional Engagement with AI-Generated vs. Traditional Art

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the art world has sparked

ongoing discussions about creativity, emotional connections, and aesthetic

experiences. This study investigates how audiences of different age groups perceive

and emotionally engage with AI-generated art compared to traditional art, exploring

whether AI-generated art can establish genuine emotional connections with viewers.

The results show that viewers generally prefer traditional art due to its emotional

richness, credibility, and deeper resonance with the audience. However, when

participants were unaware of whether the artwork was created by AI, AI-generated

artworks also gained more preference in certain contexts. Additionally, this paper

explores the implications of these findings for future interactions between humans and

AI-generated art, revealing the complexities and opportunities presented by AI as a

collaborative force in the creative process.