In "DEFILED.IMG," the intersection of artificial intelligence and artistic creation is explored through the lens of Keith Haring's "Unfinished Painting." Left initially incomplete as a powerful statement on the AIDS crisis, the painting becomes a canvas for debate on AI's role in art. The project involves artificially completing Haring’s work using DALL-E, deliberately extending the original designs across the empty spaces to challenge the notion of completion in the context of the artist’s intent. This was sparked by a user on X posting about how they had “finished” the painting.

The AI's inability to grasp the painting's profound emotional and historical context underlines the ethical concerns surrounding AI in art.

The AI-completed portion is subjected to digital glitching to represent the visual desecration of Haring’s message. This distortion serves as a metaphor for the dissonance between Haring’s human experience and the impersonal nature of AI, highlighting the conflict between technological advancement and the preservation of artistic integrity.

Overlaying the artwork, quotes from Haring’s journal are introduced, only to be obscured through further glitching. This element signifies the erasure and misunderstanding of Haring's personal and societal commentary, as AI and its users overlook the depth of the narrative tied to the AIDS epidemic.

DEFILED.IMG not only critiques using AI to 'finish' what is intentionally unfinished but also sparks a conversation on the broader implications for copyright and ethical considerations in art. It prompts viewers to reflect on the importance of artistic intent, cultural and historical context preservation, and the potential consequences of AI’s expanding role in creative processes