What is Useful Arts
Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution:
"To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.
Useful Arts started when everyone was arguing about whether it was “fair use” for AI models to train on creative works without consent or compensation. We talked to people across the spectrum: tech folks, artists, designers, and off-duty lawyers... while no two opinions were the same, there was one thing that we all agreed on — we need to find a thoughtful way to keep the creative community thriving while letting helpful science move forward.
Today, Useful Arts is a 501(c)(3) organization formed for the charitable purpose of promoting a more equitable creative economy in the era of generative artificial intelligence by supporting creative workers—such as artists, designers, musicians, videographers, and others engaged in creative professions—in navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by these technologies.
Why and Why Now?
Technology and art have always been intertwined, pushing the boundaries of human creativity and craftsmanship. Tempera gave way to oil paints during the Renaissance, and film photography transitioned to digital in the internet era. Yet never has change come as quickly or with such impact as with the rise of generative AI. This is not only because of its rapid advancement in producing beautiful and realistic digital works, but because, for the first time, a technology possesses the potential to separate creativity from craftsmanship.
The Arnolfini Portrait, 1434, by Jan Van Eyck, who pioneered the use of oil paints, which enabled a cultural shift in artistic interest from incorporeal heavens to materialism and reality.
Image generated by ChatGPT, 2025, inspired by Jan Van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Portrait and the likeness of Sam Altman.
For generations, artistic masters brought creativity to life through their skilled labor. Now, their works, with the power of generative AI, enable future generations to produce creative outputs in mere seconds. While technology has the potential to unbridle creativity from the act of creation, this democratization also risks leaving artisans behind. In doing so, we may slow the deeper evolution of human creativity, which has long been forged through the hands-on process of making.
Useful Arts’ mission is to ensure a future where human creativity, whether crafted, generated, or both, continues to thrive, evolve, and inspire.
What Does Useful Arts Do
By providing transparency and information to the creative community and general public through:
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Creative AI Use Disclosure (CAUD) label
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Latest news regarding creative ownership and AI
By upskilling and inspiring creators with courseworks on:
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How to use and leverage new AI tools on the market
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Understanding Terms of Use of AI tools
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How others in the community how they use AI
By connecting artists with legal and financial resources on:
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Copyright inquiries and filings
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Legal concerns regarding creative ownership