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.
2019年夏天，我参加了上海交通大学设计学院的一个讨论会。主题：人工智能（AI）及其在创意产业的未来实施。演讲者包括一位在上海进行研究的希腊计算机科学教授、一位哲学家和几位在人工智能应用领域有丰富经验的企业家，其中一位从事建筑领域，另一位从事视觉传达领域。
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.
这在某种程度上令人大开眼界，展示了我们应该期待什么，要么跳上马车，要么成为专业人士。至少，这是我的看法。
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?”
当问答环节到来时，在众多举手和接二连三的问题中，我终于可以问：“人工智能是否有可能通过削弱思考和分析过程来抑制人类创造力的自然发展？”
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.
当路过的希腊教授走出会议室时，他的回答是一种越过肩膀的表情和一种磨损的表情，“人工智能是来帮忙的！”，让我更多的是担忧，而不是信心。
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.
快进到 2022 年夏天，我正在被人工智能取代。那是在 MidJourney 的公测版本发布期间。几个月前我刚刚受聘做的工作突然变得更容易、制作速度更快，并且具有令人印象深刻的美学和视觉质量，但最重要的是，免费。我已经变得多余了。
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.
对于一家试图降低运营成本的年轻初创公司来说，这是明智之举，甚至可能是唯一的选择。我也会这么做的。
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.
MidJourney 对视觉艺术家和设计师产生了即时而强大的影响。反应是分开的；要么是绝对的爱，要么是怀疑和保留，但总是令人惊讶，而且我必须承认，我什至有一点恐惧。不仅仅是对 MidJourney 的影响感到惊讶，现在我们引入了 ChatGPT，人工智能能够通过在正确的提示下输入句子来生成具有人类难以想象的准确度的文本。
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.
现在问题变得更加紧迫。人工智能不仅会抑制人类创造力、解决问题和分析能力的自然发展，更糟糕的是，我们可能会废除人类认知中最复杂和最先进的方面；创造力的能力。
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.
我明白为什么那位希腊教授驳回了我的担忧。当然，人工智能可以提供帮助；它将加速我们从人文到科学的各个方面的进步，特别是在医学等关键领域。
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.
然而，我们必须面对不幸的现实；我们星球上的绝大多数人并没有为人类进步而努力。大多数人更感兴趣的是生存、支付账单、取得一定程度的成功和稳定、养活自己和所爱的人，以及以最快、最轻松的方式实现自己的抱负。人工智能也将为此做出贡献。
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.
我们需要承认，对于大多数人来说，人工智能代表着走捷径、作弊、偷工减料和偷懒的机会。它将减少我们对分析、思考或推理的需求；能力被视为理所当然，而实际上应该培养。
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.
用不了多久，我们就会推出一款人工智能应用程序，在输入我们所有的变量和环境后，它能够为我们的生活做出决定。那么，我们肯定甚至不需要考虑自己的人生选择。
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?
想法的产生是面对挑战、遇到障碍以及寻找或创造解决这些问题的创新方法的直接结果。这是我们人类创造力的核心。如果我们减少或消除这些障碍会发生什么？
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.
每次我教授有关创造力的课程或讲座时，我总是强调一件事：不要忘记我们的进化还没有完成。
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.
我们仍然并将永远处于从猿类到现代先进人类的相同进化过程中。
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.
那时，我们的祖先没有特权选择这一过程的环境。今天，我们确实拥有这种特权，但我们通过选择便利和舒适而不是脑力、努力、实验和经验来抛弃它。
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.
是的，我们必须张开双臂欢迎人工智能并充分利用它，但必须采取所有必要措施来确保我们以最道德和合理的方式做到这一点。换句话说，确保我们的人性不会屈服于追求舒适和便利的自然倾向，同时让我们人类状况中最令人难以置信的方面——能力或创造力——消失。
