Is imitation theft or apprenticeship?

"In 18th-century Europe, aspiring painters learned to paint by copying other artists. They spent years in studios reproducing sketches and practicing technique. The point was to learn through repetition, and copying helped these aspiring artists understand what good looked like. Imitation was just part of the process. Only after years of apprenticeship did painters begin to branch off. Today, we're talking about voice and style - something we used to develop through practice and feedback."

"Only after years of apprenticeship did painters begin to branch off. Today, we're talking about voice and style - something we used to develop through practice and feedback. When something feels like it was produced with AI, we discount its quality. We often blame the tool, or worse, we blame the person using it. To bring some clarity, we're bringing back two forgotten thinkers: Anna Laetitia Barbauld and Richard Bentley."

Apprenticeship historically taught craft through extended imitation and repetition, with aspiring painters copying masters to learn technique before developing individual style. Anna Laetitia Barbauld used copying of essays and poems to teach structure, style, and a sense of voice to students lacking formal training. Modern AI tools accelerate production but have outpaced instruction in craft and standards of quality. Work that appears AI-assisted is frequently discounted, and blame often falls on tools or their users. Revisiting imitation-based pedagogy and related eighteenth-century ideas offers a route to teach voice, intent, and ethical AI-assisted practice.

Read at Medium