The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into human experience has permeated nearly every aspect of our lives. With no stone left untouched, AI keeps improving, changing and refining our new norm. This is evident from the way we communicate and interact, to our daily workspace in various fields, the educational and health care systems and even down to the products and entertainment we consume daily.
The rise of AI, with the many benefits it has come with, has also ignited a debate that touches on a fundamental aspect of human existence: creativity. From human history until now, creativity has been the wheel on which every new invention in the form of art, design, medicine,solutions and technological advancements across different fields have ridden on until the advent of the AI.
While other inventions across history solved important problems of humanity such as the invention of electricity and the ICT which were widely applauded and well received across the human race. What makes the AI distinct is that even though it has come with many benefits unhinged, it also stands seemingly as a threat to human creativity and expression.
There are two major schools of thought as it pertains to the advent of artificial intelligence and it’s effect on human creativity and we will be exploring the two sides of the coin in this blog post while ultimately establishing a balance. The first school of thought is established on the fear that AI will bring about an end to human creativity, rendering creatives like artists, designers,writers, musicians, and others obsolete. This is not entirely untrue, as when we consider some of the creative works that are being done currently with A.I, one would suggest that we are almost at the verge of what would make it impossible to differentiate a creative work performed by human intelligence from that which was curated from artificial intelligence.
Subsequently, there are others who argue that AI is merely a powerful tool that can enhance and expand the boundaries of human creativity when its use is fully understood and engaged. This poses to be equally true considering the number of creatives coming out to commend the input of AI in their professions as being a tool that has helped them produce more quality work in a shorter period of time. However, before we can establish a balance between the both perspectives, it is expedient that we peruse some of the reasons to both sides of the coin.
Why do some people believe that AI is slowly becoming an end to human creativity?
Ability to automate creative processes
A major component of creative AI tools that make them notable is their ability to generate art, compose music, write stories, and even design products in a short period of time compared to human intelligence and ability. Advanced AI models like OpenAI’s GPT-4 can even produce essays, poems, and entire novels with little to no human input. Tools like DALL-E and DeftGPT can equally create visual art by interpreting textual descriptions, and some AI-powered music generators can compose quality symphonies in a matter of seconds. With daily improvements being added to these technologies, they could potentially automate many creative tasks that have traditionally required the artistic creativity and efforts of Humans. Thereby instigating the question of whether humans will no longer be creative or even if humans still explore their creativity, will it still be as valued as it has always been?
Decrease in Originality and Authenticity
Another key criticism of AI-generated content is that it often seems to lack the originality and authenticity that characterize human creativity.
A number of people would fall in love with the picasso painting and other expressions of arts because of the many emotions it radiates and which makes people connect with it. Authenticity is widely known to be a major factor in determining human connection. The onus therefore lies in whether or not AI will be able to deliver creative pieces that can connect with humans, especially considering the fact that AI essentially learns from existing data by mimicking or remixing what has already been created.
Moreover, the depth of unique personal experiences that fuel human creativity are often absent in AI-generated content. Poems and stories written by an AI might be perfect in terms of structure but might lack the passion, and personal touch that a human poet or writer might bring. There is therefore an uncertainty around creative works because they tend to feel hollow and lack the soul factor that makes human creativity distinct.
Reduction in the Value of Creative Outputs
There is also the risk that as more AI-curated content becomes prevalent, creative works will be increasingly commodified. This is because contents produced in large quantities at a rapid pace may ultimately lead to a decrease in its value. This can directly affect creative professions, making it difficult for creatives across industries to earn a living from their work.
In the next part of this blog post we will be highlighting the second major perspective on the advent of Artificial intelligence while also establishing a balanced perspective.