UNSW under fire over ‘generative AI' art course offering
The class, called DART2252 – Generative AI for Artists, is an elective available to those studying under the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture.
It advertises coursework that focuses on producing creative works that 'employ generative AI', with students encouraged to 'explore, interrogate, and integrate current innovations in generative AI'.
UNSW Fine Arts and Secondary Education student, Robin Chessell, said it was hard not to find the course insulting, 'especially as an art student'.
'AI can feel very threatening as companies pursue profits over genuine art and human connection. So it does feel a little bit like a betrayal,' the 22-year-old said.
'I've cared a lot about ethical issues with technology for a long time.
'I was very critical of the NFT phase that we went through in 2020, and then as AI has sort of come more into the mainstream, I've been seeing the issues, the negative impacts of it, come out more and more as well.'
Ms Chessell said, the truth is, that where or not UNSW run this course, AI is going to make its way into the art landscape.
However, she believes that running this course 'sends a message' to art students that hard work, art and behaving ethically towards other people and to the environment 'is not valued',
'And it would send a message that our intellectual property and our creations and ideas as artists are not valued,' the student added.
Ms Chessell said the first she heard of the subject being run was via a group chat, and believes the university has not carried out enough consultation with students about the implementation of AI.
'I think from all of the people that I've talked to here on art campus as well as online, I haven't seen a single person that says, 'yes, we need this course',' she said.
'Everyone is pretty universally is against it.
'We were just very frustrated, even felt a sense of betrayal from the university, that they would run this subject and that's what sort of prompted me to do something about it.'
A Change.org petition started by Ms Chessell has already garnered almost 500 signatures.
It calls for the removal of the subject, citing concerns regarding the negative impacts of generative AI such as plagiarism, electricity and water use, climate impacts and ethics surrounding misusage.
As well as the cancellation of the class, the petition demands UNSW to commit to not teach or require the use of generative AI in any other classes, now or in future – and when it is mentioned, the disadvantages are outlined by staff.
Many signatories expressed their disappointment with the 'harmful' decision to mix AI and human creativity – something that has already resulted in lawsuits around the globe.
'The whole point of applying to, enrolling in, and paying for art school is so YOU can make the art,' one wrote.
'Generative AI in its current state only provides more issues than it does provide a helpful medium for artistic interpretation,' another said.
'It steals from others and uses resources that ultimately plummet us towards more climate change.'
'AI should never be a replacement for creativity,' a third commented.
A fourth said: 'Wow, this is messed up.'
'Even if they'd (sic) eliminate this unit later, UNSW turned out to be … a uni that does not care about a sustainable future at all.
'Extremely disappointed and UNSW definitely does not deserve that high ranking in Australia and in the world.'
A spokesperson for UNSW told news.com.au the course was consistent with the university's guidelines on the ethical and 'thoughtful' integration of AI.
They did not specify as to how they would minimise any negative impacts created by AI.
'DART2252 Generative AI for Artists is an elective course at UNSW Sydney that critically explores the creative and ethical questions raised by AI, rather than simply promoting or celebrating its use,' the spokesperson said.
'It provides students with the tools to understand and question the role of generative AI in the arts, and is part of a broader effort to ensure students are well-equipped to navigate an increasingly AI-integrated world.'
The spokesperson said the course was originally introduced in 2021 under the name Emerging Media Technologies Studio, before being renamed Generative AI for Artists in 2024.
It was first taught under its new name in 2025.
'The updated course was approved through UNSW's standard academic governance processes,' the spokesperson said.
'As with all UNSW operations, the course (with its enrolment of fewer than 20 students) aligns with the University's Environmental Sustainability Plan.
'UNSW is a certified carbon-neutral organisation, and the University remains committed to minimising its environmental footprint across all activities.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
Lead actor in Rebel Wilson's film ‘The Deb' alleges her reputation was damaged by Wilson
The lead actor in Rebel Wilson's film 'The Deb' has accused the Aussie star of damaging her reputation in a series of social media posts, as Ms Wilson faces separate allegations she tried to undermine the film's release. Lawyers for actor Charlotte MacInnes on Thursday filed a concerns notice to Rebel Wilson over a series of social media posts made by the major Aussie star. Court documents, seen by NewsWire, allege Ms Wilson made a series of posts to Instagram which implied Ms MacInnes had changed her story about one of the film's producers, Amanda Ghost, allegedly making unwanted sexual advances towards her. According to the court documents, the posts also allegedly suggested that she got the lead role in one Ms Ghost's productions in return, was given a record label deal, and was paid off by Ms Ghost to lie about a complaint made to Ms Wilson about the alleged sexual harassment. Rebel Wilson has not yet responded to the claims. Picture: Instagram The documents claim the imputations are 'false and seriously defamatory', harming Ms MacInnes' reputation at a critical point in her career. 'The Publications carried seriously defamatory imputations damaging to Ms MacInnes' personal and professional reputation,' the documents state. 'This was her first lead role in a film and you cruelled her professional reputation before she could even enjoy the benefit of the success of the film as the lead actress.' Lawyers from law firm Giles George argue Ms Wilson's alleged statements carry particular weight within the film industry, given her success. Ms MacInnes is seeking damages and a permanent order to stop Ms Wilson from publishing any similar statements in the future. A series of screenshots of the alleged defamatory statements were attached in the lengthy concerns notice and seen by NewsWire. The fresh threat comes as Ms Wilson faces unrelated allegations she tried to undermine the release of her film 'The Deb'. Ms Wilson and the company AI film Production Limited agreed to produce the Aussie film 'The Deb' in 2023. Court documents, also seen by NewsWire, claim Ms Wilson made allegations that producers on the film had engaged in inappropriate conduct towards the film's lead actor, embezzled money, and tried to block the film's release. Rebel Wilson is facing separate allegations that she tried to undermine the film's release. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell The film ultimately premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, however the documents allege Ms Wilson then 'undermined' efforts to further distribute the film, including by again alleging the company was trying to block the film's release. 'In fact, it was Wilson who was undermining the attempts of the producers and AI Film to secure distribution deals for the Film by continuing to make public and false allegations, and by deliberately undermining the negotiations with potential distributors,' the document claims. Proposals to distribute the film were subsequently withdrawn after Ms Wilson allegedly threatened to get an injunction to prevent its release. Lawyers argue Ms Wilson's alleged actions have damaged the company's reputations and goodwill, undermined the value of the film's rights and led to a loss of distribution revenues. Rebel Wilson's lawyers on Friday sought more time before the matter is next called up in court. Picture: Instagram The document also claims Ms Wilson's alleged behaviour was in breach of her contract. Lawyers on behalf of AI Film are pushing for damages, statutory compensation, an apology, and corrective advertising. Further, they're seeking an order to prevent the actor from making any statements similar to those alleged in the documents. The matter was heard briefly in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, where lawyer Sue Chrysanthou argued against a bid by Ms Wilson's lawyers for a delay in the case. 'Your Honour we oppose that, the defendants were served on the day of filing, the day after…(Ms Wilson) went online to her social media and complained about the proceedings and repeated the conduct alleged,' Ms Chrysanthou told the court. Justice Elisabeth Peden ultimately granted a slightly shorter adjournment than Ms Wilson's lawyers were seeking, with the matter to return to court in September. Clareese Packer Reporter Clareese is a Court Reporter at NewsWire. She previously covered breaking news for the outlet after completing the 2023 NewsCorp cadet program, where she worked at The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, the National News Network and NewsWire. Clareese Packer
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
Zip launches BNPL invoice service with Xero and Stripe to combat late payments
Fintech Zip has partnered with Stripe and Xero, aiming to solve a $1.1bn problem for small businesses: late payments. The partnership allows businesses using Xero and Stripe to offer their customers the opportunity to split invoice payments via Zip - which is listed on the ASX with a market value of $4.32bn - while receiving the full amount upfront, 'minus any fees'. Soraya Alali, Zip's chief executive for Australia and New Zealand, said the collaboration will combat this by ensuring owners get 'paid more efficiently' and can 'take greater control of their cash flow management'. According to Xero's Small Business Report, half of all payments made to small businesses are paid late, costing small businesses $1.1bn a year in Australia. 'This integration means small businesses in Australia on the Xero platform, with a Stripe account, can now add Zip's flexible payment solutions directly on their invoices, providing customers with greater payment flexibility and helping businesses to reduce payment friction and support cash flow management,' Ms Alali said. 'We're excited to bring this capability to Xero customers through Stripe's payment infrastructure.' Zip specialises in digital financial services and is primarily known for its buy now, pay later offering. Xero chief executive Sukhinder Singh Cassidy told this masthead that her job was 'to worry about what small businesses enduringly need'. The collaboration with Zip and Stripe follows Xero acquiring New York-based accounting platform Melio Payments for $US2.5bn. Ms Singh Cassidy said the Melio deal aimed to solve a 'critical customer need', combining accountants and payments on one platform. 'We know that actually managing your accounting and your financial operations and now your payments and cash flow is even more critical, you know, in times of uncertainty,' Ms Singh Cassidy said when the deal was announced in June. 'Managing payments out and getting paid faster is the most critical thing to surviving. Late payments continue to be a big issue, because if you get paid late, it's very hard to manage your cash flow. 'And by the way, in that case, you really do want to manage your spend out in quite a scheduled manner, because you're not going to pay out before you get paid. This is why we want to own both sides of that transaction flow also.' Xero senior vice-president of payments Bharathi Ramavarjula said consumers also expected more choice for how they pay invoices. 'So the more payment methods we can offer with Stripe, such as Zip, the more likely it is that our customers will get paid up to twice as fast, helping to strengthen their financial position, and reclaim hours spent chasing late payments,' Ms Ramavarjula said. Stripe managing director for Australia and New Zealand Karl Durrance said small businesses often struggle with cash flow and complexity of managing unpaid invoices, chasing late payments and reconciling accounts manually. 'Working with Zip and Xero demonstrates how technology solves important business problems — small businesses get paid faster while offering their customers more flexible payment options, opening up new possibilities for growth.' Jared Lynch Technology Editor Jared Lynch is The Australian's Technology Editor, with a career spanning two decades. Jared is based in Melbourne and has extensive experience in markets, start-ups, media and corporate affairs. His work has gained recognition as a finalist in the Walkley and Quill awards. Previously, he worked at The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Technology Mike Cannon-Brookes has given an upbeat outlook for Atlassian, expecting 'significant tailwinds' from AI after the company upped its full-year revenue by almost $US1bn. Technology OpenAI's founder Sam Altman is pushing for AI to 'thrive' but writers, artists and musicians warn of devastating consequences if copyright laws are relaxed to fuel the AI race.
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
Nuclear power: Expert reveals hidden cost of Australia's energy path
A leading British nuclear scientist has issued a warning to Australia that 'there are consequences' in rejecting nuclear energy as an energy source. Former chief scientific adviser to the UK Ministry of Defence Sir Robin Grimes said such a stance would likely put Australia in a weaker position to take advantage of the AI boom and invest in data centres. Sir Robin said the issue of nuclear energy was something Australia needed to 'debate', with the Coalition vowing to pursue it as part of its energy policy. 'Yes, you don't have to go nuclear, but there are consequences of deciding to use it and not use it,' he told NewsWire. 'It means that Australia will not be in as strong a position to do certain types of industrial processes. As a consequence, data centres, (AI and robotics) are much more difficult to have if you don't have that base-load capacity available to you.' A leading British nuclear scientist said there would be consequences if Australia chose to reject the use of nuclear energy in its grid. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Sir Robin said while Australia was 'blessed with fantastic sunshine', nuclear should be considered as an alternative to costly batteries. In comparison, the UK generates about 15 per cent of its electricity from nuclear sources, with wind and gas also key players in its grid, accounting for 30 per cent of energy input. 'If you want energy security, and if you want a really robust system, then you're going to have to invest in phenomenal amounts of storage if you don't go nuclear,' Sir Robin said. 'Batteries don't generate energy. They're a tax on the energy that you're produced because you've having to store it … and the more energy you produce from intermittent renewables, the more storage you need and the greater the cost.' Australia's abundant supplies of uranium, which make up about 8 per cent of global production and are estimated to be about one-third of the world's uranium supply, could also be refined onshore, leading to new job markets, Sir Robin added. This could involve processing the uranium ore, refining it into yellowcake and converting it to uranium hexafluoride, steps that come before the compounds are enriched to create nuclear fuel. 'The question is, do you just dig the ore out the ground and shove it on a train and export it to somewhere that's going to do something with it, or do you go through some of the processes and retain more of the jobs associated with that in Australia,' Sir Robin said. Earlier this year, the Dutton-led Coalition took a nuclear policy to build seven reactors by 2050 to the federal election. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Sir Robin's comments follow an Australia-first conference on nuclear energy hosted by the University of NSW in Sydney this week. The event featured talks from world-leading nuclear scientists, including Nuclear Energy Agency director-general William Magwood, US Department of Energy deputy assistant secretary Aleshia Duncan and Sir Robin. It follows the launch of Australia's first undergraduate honours degree in nuclear engineering, slated to start in 2026. UNSW's Nuclear Innovation Centre director Ed Obbard said he believed the nuclear debate would likely grow as Australia developed a domestic nuclear engineering workforce and through existing initiatives like the AUKUS submarine program and Sydney's OPAL reactor, which produces radioisotopes for medical imaging, cancer treatment and research. 'As the nuclear sector grows, both in Australia and worldwide, discussions on civilian nuclear energy will become increasingly realistic,' Dr Obbard said. 'Assuming that we still care about decarbonisation, nuclear is never going to go away.' However, Dr Obbard said Australia having a nuclear workforce was welcomed by both sides of politics. 'It doesn't matter whether you're Liberal and you think we need a workforce for a future nuclear workforce, or if you're Labor and you're desperate to find a workforce to show the Americans that we're doing OK with AUKUS,' he said. 'Or if you're a university where you have international students coming from around the world to study engineering at UNSW. 'You've got this tripling of capacity happening everywhere, and there's a huge nuclear skills shortage wherever you go, and everyone agrees on that.' The Coalition's energy spokesman Dan Tehan welcomed the conference and said 'having a conversation about zero emissions nuclear energy continues to be incredibly important for Australia and the world'. 'More and more countries are adopting nuclear energy as they seek energy abundance and to reduce their emissions, and this is something that should be on the agenda for discussion here in Australia,' he said. 'We've committed to the removal of the moratorium (on nuclear energy) and further policy is under review.' Jessica Wang NewsWire Federal Politics Reporter Jessica Wang is a federal politics reporter for NewsWire based in the Canberra Press Gallery. She previously covered NSW state politics for the Wire and has also worked at and Mamamia covering breaking news, entertainment, and lifestyle. @imjesswang_ Jessica Wang
