What's Behind the Magic? Audiences Seek Artistic Value in Generative AI's Contributions to a Live Dance Performance

2025-07-31

AI Summary

This study addresses divergent value perceptions surrounding generative AI (GenAI) in artistic creation, specifically examining how audience judgments of artistic value in dance performances are influenced by awareness of AI involvement. Method: Employing an experimental design, we compared audience evaluations of the same choreographic work—presented either as AI-assisted or traditionally created—using pre- and post-exposure questionnaires (N=39) to quantify shifts in perceived artistic value. Results: Participants significantly rated the AI-assisted version as more artistically valuable when unaware of AI’s role; however, explicit disclosure of AI involvement diminished perceived artistic value. This study provides the first empirical evidence in dance of a “cognitive framing effect” moderating AI art acceptance, highlighting the critical roles of social context and user interpretive agency in technological narratives. It offers foundational empirical support and theoretical insights for establishing consensus mechanisms in human–AI collaborative art practices.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: Learning Human Values and Preferences
• Philosophy and Ethics of AI: Morality & Value-based AI
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Computational Creativity

Application Category

• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Trust and reliance of crowd workers and data experts on GenAI
• Social Networks and Social Media: Generative AI / large language models and their impact on social systems
• Responsible Web: Human-perceived consequences of algorithmic deployment on the web

Abstract

With the development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools to create art, stakeholders cannot come to an agreement on the value of these works. In this study we uncovered the mixed opinions surrounding art made by AI. We developed two versions of a dance performance augmented by technology either with or without GenAI. For each version we informed audiences of the performance's development either before or after a survey on their perceptions of the performance. There were thirty-nine participants (13 males, 26 female) divided between the four performances. Results demonstrated that individuals were more inclined to attribute artistic merit to works made by GenAI when they were unaware of its use. We present this case study as a call to address the importance of utilizing the social context and the users' interpretations of GenAI in shaping a technical explanation, leading to a greater discussion that can bridge gaps in understanding.

Problem

• Assessing artistic value perception in AI-generated dance performances
• Exploring audience bias when aware of AI's role in art creation
• Investigating social context impact on GenAI art acceptance

Innovation

• Used GenAI in live dance performance
• Compared audience perceptions with and without GenAI
• Analyzed social context impact on artistic value