As it stands at the moment, Artificial intelligence (AI) can mimic creative processes and provide tools/software for creative work, but it still struggles to replicate the depth and breadth of human creativity. This is particularly the case when it comes to intuition, emotional expression, and originality.
AI still “lacks intuition”. AI systems lack human intuition and emotional understanding, making it difficult for them to produce truly original or emotionally resonant creative works. As AI creative applications still operate on predefined rules and learned patterns, limiting the depth of their creative output makes them fully reliable for “rule-based learning”. AI does not break rules – yet! Though some AI can mimic existing styles or trends, it still struggles to push the boundaries of creativity in entirely new directions – it is all about imitation and copying of pre-existent creative ideas.
So, why is human creativity important for the evolution of creativity and why is this (maybe) the perfect antidote for concerns around art and AI?
In my view, creativity is the human ability to generate new and novel ideas, solutions, or expressions that are original, valuable, and often involve “thinking outside the box”. Creativity can manifest in various forms, including art, science, problem-solving, and many more ways. Creativity involves combining our consciousness, imagination and our knowledge of existing concepts in new and innovative ways. Creative art makes the familiar unfamiliar – challenging our preconceptions and generating a creative response in its turn.
Creativity is paramount for our existence and evolution for reasons such as:
- It helps us with solving problems: creative thinking allows us to find unique and effective solutions to challenges and complex problems.
- It makes us innovative: creativity is the driving force behind arts, design, technological advancements, new products, and scientific discoveries.
- It makes us adaptable: in a rapidly changing world, creative individuals can better adapt to new situations and come up with innovative responses.
- It gives us personal fulfillment: expressing creativity can be personally fulfilling and a source of joy and satisfaction.
- We become better communicators: creative expression, such as art, music, and storytelling, can convey complex ideas and emotions, fostering connection and understanding.
- It develops intellectual growth and development: engaging in creative pursuits can expand one’s knowledge and intellectual capabilities.
- It empowers social change and evolution: creative thinking can inspire social and political change, challenging existing norms and systems.
- It gives us the possibility for problem prevention: creativity can help identify and address potential issues before they become major problems.
- It is crucial for lifelong learning: most importantly embracing creativity encourages ongoing curiosity and learning, promoting personal growth and development.
AI can however also enhance human creativity. It offers us tools for developing our own creativity. AI can serve as a creative tool, aiding artists, designers, scientists and writers in generating ideas, improving efficiency, and automating repetitive tasks. Humans and AI can collaborate to create new and innovative solutions, benefiting from the strengths of both – but it cannot replace us.
Therefore, maybe the true challenge for the creative practitioner is to see human creativity as a healthy and positive antidote to AI. The creative practitioner must constantly be conscious about where they are as creative human beings different from AI – and foster this as far as absolutely possible.
AGAIN, as a creative practitioner we must continue to recognise how important it is that we empower people to “think as far outside the box as absolutely possible!”
AliusArt 