Art or Algorithm? is a new research report from Arts SU, exploring how students at University of the Arts London (UAL) view AI’s role in their education and future careers.

Based on qualitative research with UAL students across disciplines (including Fine Art, Fashion, Animation, Photography, and Creative Computing) the report highlights both the opportunities and challenges posed by AI in the creative sector.

Key insights

• AI as a creative tool: Students acknowledge AI’s potential to support research, ideation, and workflow efficiency.

• Ethical concerns: Widespread unease about AI’s exploitation of human-created works, with calls for stronger intellectual property protections.

• Job security and industry impact: Many fear AI-driven automation could lead to job losses, wage suppression, and the devaluation of artistic labour.

• Sustainability challenges: AI’s high energy consumption contradicts UAL’s and the industry’s commitments to sustainability.

• Call for regulation: Students demand clearer policies on AI’s role in education and the creative workforce to ensure ethical, transparent, and sustainable use.

This report is essential reading for policymakers, industry leaders, educators, and students interested in the future of the UK’s creative industries. As the government focuses on strengthening the creative pipeline, it is vital to understand how AI is affecting the next generation of creative professionals, those who will shape the industry for years to come.

To read the full report please follow the link here.

Or view the report in PDF book-style format or page-by-page format.

For further information, contact Calum Sherwood, Senior Policy and Research Officer at Arts SU: c.sherwood@su.arts.ac.uk

Thanks to Marina Marbella for designing this report.