This spring, a wave of AI-generated imagery in the style of Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli flooded social media. The trend renewed debate about how AI affects the way we make and experience art. On this episode of The Artsy Podcast, we tackle some of those questions with New Yorker staff writer Kyle Chayka, whose book Filterworld explores the impact of online algorithms on popular culture. We discuss the homogenizing effects of social media, the evolving role of curators, and the importance of cultivating personal taste at a time when culture is mediated by machines. 

Plus, Artsy editors Casey Lesser and Arun Kakar share insights on the Chinese art market from Arun’s recent visit to Beijing and preview their upcoming trip to Art Basel.

Kyle Chayka is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where he writes a column about the intersections of digital technology and popular culture. He is the author of Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture.

Key topics: AI art, ChatGPT, algorithms, social media, curation, tastemaking

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