AI Statement
Our mission at Santa Fe Workshops is to educate on all aspects of photography and the visual arts. We aim to foster a culture of critical thinking and encourage larger conversations about creativity, technology, and the role of photography in our ever-evolving world.
Today, this means acknowledging the global impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and generated imagery on all photographic industries and disciplines. Santa Fe Workshops encourages the continued investigation of AI’s creative potential and contributions to photography, while also acknowledging the following areas of concern:
- Environmental Impact: Image generation is one of the most energy-intensive AI processes, placing extreme demand on our energy systems and contributing to the footprint of data centers—including in our water-scarce home state of New Mexico.
- Photojournalism and Misinformation: Generated imagery can reinforce falsified narratives and stereotypes. Media standards for disclosing AI usage are still largely in development.
- Ethics and Plagiarism: Many AI models are trained on the existing work of artists and photographers, often without consent, compensation, or credit. In the United States, legal frameworks for credit and compensation remain undefined or in development.
- Labor Impact: Many technical roles are being replaced by AI without long-term consideration for the cost to human jobs and welfare.
- Cognitive and Creative Impact: Studies increasingly show that repetitive use of AI tools can lead to cognitive decline and reduction in creative and critical thinking.
Santa Fe Workshops believes acknowledging these concerns is essential to offering holistic and responsible educational programs on AI. We commit to creating space in our classrooms to explore these topics further. We also commit to providing resources for our instructors and participants to make informed decisions about AI and engage in thoughtful conversation about its usage.
As AI evolves, our intention as an educational center is to evolve with it and support the conversation in a way that inspires human creativity and learning.
