Research on Artistic Agency in the AI Era: In-Depth Interviews with Eight Artists Using AI for Creation

Against the backdrop of generative artificial intelligence entering the artistic domain, this study examines how artists' creative agency and professional identity are reshaped by AI intervention. Through comprehensive semi-structured in-depth interviews with eight professional creators spanning diverse artistic disciplines including dance, theatre, photography, design, and new media art, this research provides valuable insights into the evolving relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence. The findings reveal a nuanced perspective where artists predominantly view AI as an augmentative technological tool that enhances creative efficiency and expands conceptual boundaries, rather than perceiving it as an autonomous creative entity. Notably, artists with more extensive professional experience demonstrate greater confidence and less anxiety regarding potential AI replacement. While AI exhibits significant strengths in image generation and workflow optimization, the study identifies clear limitations in its capacity for emotional expression and narrative development, particularly within the context of theatrical performance, hence the research indicates that AI integration has not fundamentally disrupted artists' sense of creative agency nor significantly altered their core professional identity in the immediate term. However. The increasing prevalence of AI in creative practices necessitates a strategic response from educational institutions; based on these findings, this study strongly advocates for the integration of comprehensive AI literacy programs in higher education curricula, aiming to foster a sustainable and synergistic relationship between artistic practice and artificial intelligence technologies.