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The creativity of artificial intelligence

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Listed:
  • Prissé, Benjamin
  • Deng, Ruotong
  • Ho, Jun Quan
  • Jayasekara, Dinithi
  • Ouangraoua, Chris

Abstract

This paper investigates how humans evaluate the creativity of AI-generated artworks in comparison to the human artworks from which they were derived. Using a novel experimental framework, we commissioned original artworks across three distinct art styles: animal charcoal drawings, minimalist commercial logos, and watercolor landscapes. We then prompted Stable Diffusion to produce artworks based on the commissioned pieces. Participants evaluated the creativity of both human- and AI-generated artworks by assigning a grade between 0 and 10, and then bid for these drawings in an auction to examine how monetary costs influenced their choices. Participants then evaluated the creativity of a sample of selected AI-generated artworks to investigate the factors that drive perceptions of creativity. Results show that AI-generated drawings are consistently rated as more creative and elicit higher bids in the landscape treatment. The perceived creativity of AI-generated drawings is driven by detailed features, scene construction, and color use, while errors do not diminish perceived creativity and may even enhance it. These findings suggest that AI-generated artwork is preferred by participants due to its higher aesthetic appeal.

Suggested Citation

  • Prissé, Benjamin & Deng, Ruotong & Ho, Jun Quan & Jayasekara, Dinithi & Ouangraoua, Chris, 2026. "The creativity of artificial intelligence," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:121:y:2026:i:c:s2214804326000182
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2026.102528
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