In the summer of 2019, I attended a discussion panel at Shanghai Jiaotong University’s School of Design. The subject: artificial intelligence (AI) and its future implementations in creative industries. Among the presenters were a Greek Computer Sciences Professor conducting research in Shanghai, a philosopher and a couple of entrepreneurs with a trajectory in the use of AI, one in architecture and another in visual communication.
It was somewhat of an eye-opening presentation of what we should expect in terms of either jumping on the wagon or becoming redundant as professionals; at least, that was my take.
When the chance for the Q&A session came, among all the raised hands and the barrage of questions, I could finally ask, “Is there a chance that AI could inhibit the natural development of human ingenuity by diminishing the thinking and analytical process?”
The answer by the passing Greek professor was a kind of over-the-shoulder look and a scuffed, “AI is here to help!”, as he walked out of the conference room, leaving me with even more concern, rather than confidence.
Fast forward to the summer of 2022, and I was getting replaced by AI. It was during the release of the open beta version of MidJourney. The job I was just hired to do a couple of months previously, suddenly became way easier, faster to produce, and with an impressive aesthetic and visual quality, but most importantly, free of cost. I had become redundant.
For a young startup trying to reduce operational costs, it was the smart move and maybe even the only choice. I would have done the same.
MidJourney produced an instant and powerful influence among visual artists and designers. The reactions are divided; into either absolute love or doubts and reserve, but always amazement, and I must confess even a little bit of fear on my part. Not over the amazement at MidJourney’s implications, now we are introduced to ChatGPT, AI capable of producing text with unimaginable levels of human accuracy just by typing a sentence with the right prompts.
Now the question becomes even more urgent. AI could not only be inhibiting the natural development of human ingenuity, problem-solving and analysis, but even worse, we might be rescinding the most complex and advanced aspect of our human cognition; the ability of creativity.
I understand why that Greek professor dismissed my concern. Of course, AI is here to help; it will accelerate our progress in all aspects, from humanity to science, especially in critical fields such as medicine.
However, we must face the unfortunate reality; the vast majority of people on our planet are not working to advance humanity. Most people are more interested in surviving, paying the bills, achieving a certain level of success and stability, providing for themselves and their loved ones, and fulfilling their ambitions in the fastest and most effortless way possible. AI will also contribute to that end.
We need to acknowledge that, for the majority of the population, AI represents an opportunity to take shortcuts, cheat, cut corners and slack off. It will reduce our need for analysis, thinking or reasoning; abilities taken for granted, when instead should be nurtured.
It won’t be very long until we come up with an AI app capable of making our life decisions, after feeding it all our variables and circumstances. Then, we will surely not even need to think about our own life choices.
The generation of ideas is the direct result of the experience of facing challenges, encountering obstacles, and finding or creating innovative ways of solving those problems. That is the core of our human creativity. What happens if we reduce or remove those obstacles?
There is something I always stress every time I give a course or lecture about creativity; do not forget we are not done evolving yet.
We still are, and always will be, in the same evolutionary process that brought us from apes to the modern, advanced humans we are today.
Back then, our ancestors did not have the privilege to choose the circumstances of that process.Today we do have that privilege, and we are throwing it away by choosing convenience and comfort over brain power, effort, experimentation and experience.
Yes, we must welcome AI with open arms and take much advantage of it, but not without putting in place all the necessary measures to ensure we do it in the most ethical and reasonably possible way. In other words, making sure our humanity doesn’t succumb to our natural tendency for comfort and convenience, while letting the most incredible aspect of our human condition, the ability or creativity, whither away.
