Exploring the transformative power of AI in art through a circular economy lens. A systematic literature review

Abstract

Today, technology and sustainability are two strategic axes for the development of any industry. Art is no exception and embodies both principles. Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving the art world forwards with its applications and algorithms. Additionally, the circular economy (CE) is concerned with resources and the environment in this context. The objective of the present work is to provide an overview of the current state of research on the application of AI in the art world and an analysis of how CE principles are being incorporated, considering the interactions between AI and the CE. To this end, a systematic review of the literature is carried out in which 60 articles related to the subject are selected, analysed, and classified, highlighting the lines of research addressed. The assessment of the current state of research on the subject concludes with the four main axes of classification of works. The first line is related to AI generative content in art, addressing issues of content creation, image and painting, video, and theatre. The second line is related to AI applications for art industry production, considering the sustainability of the supply chain. The third line focuses on how the CE is being applied to art, while the fourth line focuses on other relevant aspects analysed, such as training and design. The topic is still incipient, mandating further research to study the full potential of AI and the CE in the world of art.