Malaysian artists clash over future of AI-generated art
As artificial intelligence reshapes creative world, digital artists like Akmal Aliff defend AI as tool for innovation — while others warn it threatens originality and livelihoods
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (MNTV) — On TikTok, Akmal Aliff — better known as manusia.separa.ia — has become one of Malaysia’s best-known AI artists, drawing thousands of views a day with his digitally generated images. But behind the viral success lies a debate reshaping Malaysia’s creative community: is AI enhancing human creativity, or replacing it?
Akmal says much of the backlash against AI-generated art comes from misunderstanding. “The biggest misconception is the assumption that AI creates autonomously,” he told The Sun Malaysia. “People think the machine makes art on its own, but that is not true. AI is a tool. The success of the output depends on human vision and skill.”
For him, AI represents not a threat but an evolution. “When digital cameras emerged, photographers also faced similar doubts. I’m not abandoning manual skills — I’m using technology to speed up execution and focus on concept,” he said.
Akmal argued that originality in art lies in vision, not in technique. “All artists learn from the works before them. AI does the same statistically. The originality comes from the human prompt, the decisions we make, and the concept behind it,” he said.
As for ownership, Akmal said the artist still holds the creative rights. “I provide the creative input, I direct the process. So the final artwork belongs to me,” he said, noting that many online platforms now recognize the prompter as the copyright holder.
He said he expected the gap between human imagination and digital execution to narrow even further. “In five years, we may see brain-computer interfaces where artists only need to imagine something and neural signals will translate it into output. Companies like Neuralink and Emotiv are already exploring this,” he said.
But not everyone shares Akmal’s optimism. Liyana Rizal, a graphic designer and TikTok creator known as arts_and_liyana, says AI’s rise has already changed how people value art — and not for the better.
“The rise of AI has made people expect that true art can be rushed,” she told the Sun. “That old perception that ‘art is easy’ is now supported by the fact that AI can produce an image within seconds.”
Liyana worries that AI systems learn by replicating the work of others. “When you ask AI to generate images, the process of refining and rendering is done by scanning and copying from thousands of artworks uploaded online by other artists,” she said. “It’s mass-producing stolen art.”
For her, being an artist means more than producing images. “We have to do research, learn about the brand, prepare art in flexible formats, present mockups — it takes time,” she said. “AI creators should not simply be labeled as artists.”
She also fears that employers seeking to cut costs will increasingly favor AI-generated work, threatening creative jobs. “The field is already competitive, and now we have to compete with AI too,” she said.
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