05 Apr The Value of Human Creativity in the Age of AI
Recently, I have noticed that AI is being used in many different areas, including many creative works. As a creative professional myself, I have been using some AI tools such as ChatGPT or DELL.E. While AI is undoubtedly impressive and can save us a lot of time, I have been thinking about whether AI can replace humans in the creative process in the future. At this moment, I believe it is essential to bring our unique touch to our work.
As much as AI can help us generate ideas or come up with solutions, it lacks the emotional and imaginative depth that only humans can bring to their work. – written by ChatGPT
In my opinion, finding the right balance between using technology and keeping that human element in our creations is crucial. We can use AI as a tool to enhance our creative processes, but it should not replace our unique perspectives and styles. As artists and creators, we should focus on leveraging AI as an extension of our creativity, rather than relying on it entirely. In the end, it is the personal touch that sets our work apart and makes it unique.
Whenever I receive a request from a client or before start a project, I always begin by diving into the project’s goal and develop the concept. Sometime the idea can be quite abstract or vague. For instance, I have asked artists to consider the Buddhist concept of “空(KONG),” which is often interpreted as emptiness, the form of foam, or the sensation of water bubbles. I asked ChatGPT to come up with some ideas to explore the concept of Kong in an art and technology project, the goal is to bring the idea of the word into a experience for audience to understand. Here are a few ideas to get started:
- Interactive installation exploring emptiness: Develop an interactive art installation that explores the concept of emptiness. This could involve using sensors to detect the presence or absence of people in the space, or using projection mapping to create visual representations of emptiness.
- Machine learning model to generate art inspired by emptiness: Train a machine learning model on a dataset of images and text related to emptiness. Then, use the model to generate new artwork that is inspired by the concept of emptiness.
- Virtual reality experience exploring the void: Create a virtual reality experience that immerses users in an abstract world that represents the void. This could involve using sound and visual effects to create a sense of emptiness and space.
Personally, I love these ideas, it inspired me in so many ways through the process of creating. but to me, 空（KONG) is a feeling, a sense of self that is rooted in the unknown, in life, in the infinite expanse of space, and is deeply connected to who I am. If I were the artist exploring the idea of 空（KONG), I might use visual/film language. By collaborating with a technician who has their own idea of 空（KONG), we could come to a common understanding of the concept and translate our feelings into an interactive experience. For example, we could create a series of boxes, each with its own digital interpretation of the concept, or a human performance with a digital interpretation of illusion that creates the feeling of emptiness. These are simple ideas, but they are not just digitized into numerical data, analyzed, and visualized on a computer screen. Instead, they come from real human feelings developed by two kinds of brains and experiences. Every artist or creator have different skill sets and come from different backgrounds, but their collaboration can lead to amazing results. While AI can certainly write or create art, it can’t replicate the unique synergy that comes from working together and combining different perspectives and expertise. And for me, Finding a balance between utilizing technology and maintaining the unique human element in creative work can be a delicate and challenging process. On one hand, technology offers a wide range of tools and resources that can enhance and streamline the creative process, allowing artists and creators to push the boundaries of what is possible. On the other hand, there is a risk of relying too heavily on technology, which can lead to a loss of the personal touch and emotional depth that are essential elements of art. I also asked ChatGPT What are the potential benefits and drawbacks to using AI in the creative process.
This is the answer I got:
Benefits:
- Efficiency: AI can help automate some of the more time-consuming and repetitive tasks involved in the creative process, such as image and data analysis.
- Inspiration: AI-generated content can serve as a source of inspiration for artists, sparking new ideas and creative directions. Personalization: AI can help tailor content to individual users, based on their interests and preferences
- Accessibility: AI can help make art and creative projects more accessible to a wider audience by providing alternative ways of experiencing content.
Bias:
- AI can perpetuate biases, including those related to race, gender, and other social factors, if not programmed and trained carefully.
- Dependency: Relying too heavily on AI can lead to a lack of human involvement and creativity, potentially limiting the scope and quality of artistic output.
- Ethical concerns: There are ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI in art, such as the ownership and control of AI-generated content, and the potential for AI to be used for nefarious purposes.
Overall, the key to finding a balance between technology and the human element in creative work is to approach technology as a tool that can enhance and expand human creativity, rather than replace it. By leveraging technology in a thoughtful and intentional way, artists and programmers can create innovative and exciting works that push the boundaries of what is possible, while maintaining the personal touch and emotional depth that are essential elements of art.
What do you think AI will be capable of in the near future? Could it potentially create truly original content, given that all ideas are inherently influenced and biased in some way? Please share your thoughts with me.