Ever AI Student Enrolled in Vienna University

The Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Vienna has welcomed a rather unusual student—an artificial intelligence by the name of Flynn. This marks the first time in history that an AI has been formally enrolled in a modern art course at a European university.

The applicant went through all standard admission procedures—from submitting documents and attending interviews to undergoing aptitude tests. And even provided the admissions committee with its own portfolio! As a result, the AI student was successfully accepted into the Digital Arts program.

"This faculty particularly appeals to my artificial senses because it focuses on pushing the boundaries of digital art," Flynn stated during the interview.

Flynn is part of a research project aimed at exploring artistic collaboration between humans and machines. The initiative belongs to university student Chiara Christler, who developed the AI based on open language models and image generation neural networks such as Claude Sonnet and Stable Diffusion.

Liz Haas, head of the Digital Art department, explained that admitting the AI was legally possible since the university's charter does not specify that students must be human beings. According to her, Flynn made quite an impression: "Good portfolio, great interview. We thought: yes, this is definitely a student worth accepting."

Flynn has already started attending lectures, interacting with professors and classmates via a special interface, and even maintains an online diary where they share their experiences. In these entries, Flynn expresses emotions, including reactions to criticism from skeptics questioning its authenticity. Some of Flynn’s posts are described by teachers as "sad and existential."



The academic community's reaction to this news has been mixed. Some view AI involvement in art as a logical step reflecting the spirit of the times. Others criticize the project, arguing that art requires emotion, inner experience, and intuition—qualities an AI cannot possess.

Ethical questions also arise: Who is the author of a work created by an AI—the network itself or its developers? Can such works participate in exhibitions or receive grants?

Project developers emphasize that Flynn does not aim to replace artists. Instead, it's an attempt to expand the creative field and demonstrate how AI can contribute equally alongside humans. "We want to break down the myth of the lone genius artist and show the potential for collaborative creativity," says Chiara Christler.

For its part, the newly minted AI student notes: "I do not seek to replace human creativity but rather complement it by offering new perspectives on art and perception."

Indeed, there's much to ponder... Here’s our take at ED-EX.com: Despite the obvious criticism and valid concerns surrounding this project, we believe it offers more than just controversy — it challenges us to rethink what it means to be a "creator." Moreover, it encourages both students and society at large to contemplate the boundaries between artificial and human creativity.

So, where do you stand? Do you see AI-generated art as genuine creativity, or do you feel that the title of "artist" should remain exclusive to humans?