Creative AI in Art-and-Technology Education in China: From Tool Use to Critical Artistic Inquiry

With the advancement of generative artificial intelligence, AI is permeating diverse fields—including digital imaging, interactive art, machine learning, embodied intelligence, wearable design, and robotic art—thereby gradually transforming the creative processes and knowledge structures within art-and-technology education. Consequently, the significance of AI extends beyond merely providing new tools for image generation and content production; it also necessitates a reconfiguration of the division of labor between humans and machines, the nature of aesthetic judgment, and the extent of reliance on technology in artistic creation. Set against the backdrop of art-and-technology education in China, this paper examines the practical application of AI in artistic creation and curatorial practice. It argues that such education should not be limited to the proficient use of AI tools; rather, it must integrate technical conditions, aesthetic judgment, and critical reflection—ensuring that technology functions not only as a means for artistic creation but also as an object of artistic research and inquiry.

Keywords: Art-and-technology education in China; creative artificial intelligence; artistic creation; AI-driven curatorial practice; technological reflection