As a creative professional who has embraced the use of A.I., my journey in the world of art and technology is marked by a complex and ever-evolving path. Much like many fellow creatives, I often wince when confronted with the ubiquitous question, "So, what do you do?" The answer is a winding narrative of roles and responsibilities that defy the constraints of a Tinder bio. I find myself wearing multiple hats: I am a painter, muralist, festival producer, writer, creative director, and cultural organizer. In our pursuit of a creative career in a capitalist society, we are compelled to don these various hats to make ends meet, and to be completely honest, it can be utterly exhausting.
The moments of elation that come with birthing a new creation can be exhilarating. They serve as a protective shield against the relentless monotony of our day-to-day, 9-to-5 society. Yet, these highs are often countered by the crushing waves of exhaustion that eventually set in. This exhaustion can leave us questioning our ideas, feeling adrift in the sea of creative challenges we face.
When you're perpetually in "work mode," there's little room for your creative mind to find space to breathe. The pressure to constantly produce and share work is unrelenting. As a millennial, I witnessed the rise of Instagram during my graduate school years. Back then, the mere act of focusing on metrics and using social media as a business tool to engage with the general public was viewed as “low-brow” in art circles. It was as if talking to that community or paying attention to numbers somehow diminished the intrinsic value of our creative work. While our education armed us with historical and theoretical knowledge, we were ill-equipped with the essential business skills needed for a sustainable creative career in the modern world. This oversight was a disservice to us creatives. The same disdain once associated with social media has now extended to A.I.
However, it's important to recognize that A.I., like any technological innovation, is a double-edged sword. While there are legitimate concerns about its potentially harmful aspects, its impact ultimately hinges on how it is harnessed. It's all too easy to focus on the potential pitfalls of a technology that can "mimic" or "create" in ways that align with our creative domains. Nevertheless, the heart of the matter is this: A.I. can never truly replicate the essence of human creativity. Unless we, as creators, ask the right questions and mold these technologies into meaningful conversations, they remain nothing more than discordant noise.
A.I. is a tool—a tool akin to a paintbrush, a pen, or any other creative medium. It serves as a means to craft communication, allowing us to reach and engage easier with a broad audience. However, without authentic creative voices at the helm to guide and steer this tool, it cannot foster meaningful dialogue. I see the A.I. revolution as an opportunity for creatives to recalibrate our relationship with our creative output. It offers us a chance to fulfill our tasks quicker so that we can prioritize our mental well-being, and manage the multitude of roles we're called upon to fulfill.
For many of us, our interactions with A.I. have been primarily within the realms of film and entertainment. Recently, organizations such as SAG (Screen Actors Guild) have taken the initiative to address the integration of A.I. and its implications for creatives. SAG's efforts in establishing boundaries and guidelines are commendable steps to prevent the misuse of this powerful tool. However, the misuse and exploitation of creatives are not new issues; history has witnessed them for centuries, from major institutions to record labels, fashion and publishing houses, among others.
In the grand scheme of things, content devoid of meaningful ideas and lacking curation is nothing more than filler—a visual facade. When it comes to creatives and A.I., our collective goal should be to harness its immense potential for good. A.I. is a potent tool capable of enhancing our creative processes, streamlining monotonous tasks, extending our reach, and granting us the precious gift of time to rest our tired minds.
Embracing A.I. with wisdom and foresight has the potential to illuminate a brighter future for creatives and the art world at large. It's a fusion of human creativity and technological innovation that holds the promise of unlocking new realms of research, artistic expression and communication. In this ever-evolving landscape, creativity and A.I. can be formidable allies in our quest to shape a more vibrant and meaningful artistic future.