# Mapping Recent Shifts in Digital Art via Conference Discourse: AI, XR, the Metaverse, and Blockchain/NFTs (2021-2025)

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.16360 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.16360/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 7 of its 39 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 19 Mar 2026.

## Builds on (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [High-Resolution Image Synthesis with Latent Diffusion Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2112.10752/) (2021)
- [Generative Adversarial Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.00667/) (2022)
- [Promptify: Text-to-Image Generation through Interactive Prompt Exploration with Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.09337/) (2023)
- [Advancements in Generative AI: A Comprehensive Review of GANs, GPT, Autoencoders, Diffusion Model, and Transformers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2311.10242/) (2023)
- [Composable Life: Speculation for Decentralized AI Life](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.20668/) (2025)
- [Tracing Generative AI in Digital Art: A Longitudinal Study of Chinese Painters' Attitudes, Practices, and Identity Negotiation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.03117/) (2025)
- [Lures of Engagement: An Outlook on Tactical AI Art](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.20221/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

This paper presents an analysis of five years (2021 - 2025) of conference discourse across six digital art conferences, aiming to trace thematic shifts associated with the rapid development of emerging technologies, namely artificial intelligence (AI), immersive technologies (including XR and the metaverse), and blockchain technologies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The results indicate a marked increase in AI-related contributions, while immersive technologies maintain a relatively stable share of the discourse, and blockchain- and NFT-based works remain marginal. Overall, whereas immersive technologies and blockchain-related topics exhibit relative stability, AI shows a significant rise after 2022, emerging as a dominant theme within digital art conference discourse.