Advancements in artificial intelligence have paved the way for researchers and scientists to train machines to interpret images, sounds, and patterns in videos. Deep learning algorithms have given a new meaning to artistic explorations, which have stunned the world. AI is gradually advancing to become the next medium for art, and several artists worldwide relate to this seamless development. In a world that is evolving amid codes and hi-tech machines, Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are a specific class of algorithms being used to generate AI artworks.
From pitch recognition to natural image synthesis and generating human faces that never existed— machines are likely to match human senses. You can pursue a course in respective areas of artificial intelligence that will help you write algorithms to train neural networks in a machine. An understanding of how GANs work will give you a clear picture of how AI can draw or recognise an image. From the Art of Mario Klingemann that was auctioned at the Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Day Auction in England to the portrait of Edmond Belamy that was sketched by a machine — the definition of art in itself has transformed into something incredible. Algorithms can now help you create your own art, and there are plenty of crash courses and full-time programs to help you learn the art of coding in AI.
Here are a few online lessons and courses on ‘machine/ deep learning for art’, for the current year:
Course: Machine Learning for Musicians and Artists
Offered by: Goldsmiths University of London
The Goldsmiths University of London, via Kadenze, is offering machine learning for musicians and artists. You will learn how to build musical instruments that respond to human gestures and by making sounds. As a student, you will study the fundamentals of machine learning techniques that will be further used to make sense of music, human gestures, and other real-time data. You will learn some of the best algorithmic practices which will be used to create new real-time systems in artistic works. The course starts from Aug 17, 2021, and will be conducted in seven sessions — where you will dedicate eight hours per week for the classes. The course is free of cost and comprises a series of lessons on deep learning for art. Here’s the link to apply: https://bit.ly/2Ub4SbH.
Course: Apply Creative Machine Learning
Offered by: Institute of Coding with University of Arts, London
In collaboration with the University of Arts in London, the Institute of Coding (IOC) is offering an online short course for free. In their own words, “learn how machine learning is revolutionising the creative industries”. The core areas of study are focused on AI, human-computer interactions, machine learning, and computational thinking. From music to sketching and photography, you will learn how to create classification systems that can make a difference in varying information and regression mechanisms that can map interactions onto different outputs. Here’s the link to apply: https://bit.ly/3iFGxUS.
Course: Generative Art and Computational Creativity
Offered by: Simon Fraser University via Kadenze
The course offers core technicalities of Mathematics and AI used by musicians and designers in the creative industry. The study will focus on artistic examples across creative practices like music poetry, performing arts, Robo-art, bio-art, architecture, visual art, etc. Students will get the first-hand experience in writing algorithms in such disciplines while developing generative pieces through projects in MAX. Starting August 13, the course is divided into seven sessions and is free. Here’s the link to apply: https://bit.ly/37R3b6J.
Course: Foundations of Art and Entertainment Technologies
Offered by: University of Texas at Austin via Kadenze
This course will give you an understanding of how students are exposed to the primary vehicles of entertainment every day. The focus of the course will delve around questions like: How has technology shaped and even created new art forms? How have these transformations informed styles and genres across theatre, recording music, feature films, integrated media events, gameplay from consoles to handhelds, and the explosion of commercially accessible virtual and augmented realities? Starting August 18, the course will have twelve sessions. Here’s the link to apply: https://bit.ly/2VNRURw.
Course: Machine Learning for Music Retrieval
Offered by: University of Victoria via Kadenze
Basics of data mining will be taught through the lens of music information retrieval. In order to impart practical training, the various topics will include regression (emotion/mood) and classification (genre, mood, and instrument). The course will have six sessions, starting August 21. Here’s the link to apply: https://bit.ly/3lYLieq.
Course: Machine Learning for Musicians
Offered by: Berklee College of Music
This course by Berklee College of Music offers hands-on knowledge on the creation of artworks and how various experiences can be created, composed, produced, and personalised using machine learning tools. Students will explore application-specific art, music, and creativity by using machine learning systems. It will be an amalgamation of coders and content experts who compose and personalise music and are into sound design. Here’s the link to enquire more about this course: https://bit.ly/3CIuIFy.
Deep Learning Specialisation
Offered by: DeepLearning.AI
In this course, students will learn how to build Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to apply the same in understanding patterns in images and videos. In addition, you will learn how to use Neural Style Transfer to generate art and apply such algorithms to visuals, including images and videos, in 2D and 3D. The course also includes building and training deep neural networks and applying deep learning to applications. It is a 6-month program with five hours of classes per week. Here’s how to apply for the course: https://bit.ly/2Ub0861.
These are some of the best courses available for getting started with artificial intelligence and deep learning for art. To set foot right in the industry, you should research all listed above and make the best pick.
