Teyah Parent, features editor

On Jan. 13, Graham Granger, an undergraduate student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), chewed and regurgitated 57 pieces of artificial intelligence (AI) generated art from a 160-piece collection on display at his university art gallery. The work was generated by Master of Fine Arts student Nick Dwyer. While studying film and performing arts at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Granger came across Dwyer’s art on display at the university’s art gallery and succeeded in an attempt to destroy it in a performance-based protest. To paraphrase Granger’s statement to the police, he claims that he committed the act in protest of AI art as a whole, stating that his act was symbolic in the way that AI art “chews and spits out” real, human-made art, similar to his peers’ art that was also displayed in this gallery. 

According to an official article by The Sun Star—a student-produced newspaper for UAF—Dwyer has been using AI in his art since around 2017-2018, but before that he had been creating art without AI. Student journalist Lizzy Hahn writes that in his artist statement for the display that was destroyed, Dwyer “explores identity, character narrative creation and crafting false memories of relationships in an interactive role digitally crafted before, during and after a state of AI psychosis.” AI psychosis is not a currently recognized clinical diagnosed disorder, but it is often defined as delusions triggered by frequent use of AI chatbots, especially in romantic contexts. AI psychosis is thought to occur in those who are more susceptible to common psychosis and other thought-based disorders. 

The incident has gained incredible social traction online, going viral among people who both agree and disagree with Granger’s protest. Despite this, Granger may not have intended the incident to be known outside the University. Some people online praise Granger for his brave anti-AI stance, while others say that it was not his place to intervene with Dwyer’s personal work on display—that the art was not just “AI slop” but had a deeper meaning involving Dwyer’s “AI psychosis.” 

Granger was arrested on Jan. 13 on account of fifth-degree criminal mischief following the incident, which, under Alaska law, is a class B misdemeanor. He was later released on bail after being held for around six to seven hours. His trial was held on Jan. 20. According to The Sun Star, Granger is not permitted to enter the UAF fine arts gallery or contact Dwyer. Granger currently proudly stands by his actions and has convinced multiple senators of the school board to reexamine the school’s artificial intelligence policy in general.