While AI promises efficiency, convenience, and innovation, there still looms a concern: will AI kill creativity?
As a creative arts and crafts teacher, I’ve been curious about this dynamic for a while. As someone who never considers herself as an artist and who hears, "I'm no good at art....I can't draw." almost weekly.......I wonder if it's a tool that will bring the ability to be an 'artist' to everyone.
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. AI and creativity? Aren’t they opposites? One’s all about human emotion and intuition, and the other… well, isn’t it just a bunch of cold, hard algorithms? I’ll admit, I used to think that way too. But the more I’ve explored, the more I’ve realised that AI doesn’t stifle creativity—it expands it.
Let’s start with what creativity is. Artists and creatives know it’s not just about making something pretty. Creativity (and the core of what I bring to my classroom) is about solving problems, expressing emotions, and seeing the world in a way that others don’t. It’s a process, not just a product. And AI? I believe it’s a tool that can join us in that process. Think of it like a very curious assistant who’s always ready to experiment and never gets tired.
For instance, imagine you’re working on a project, but you’re stuck. You can’t figure out how to start, or maybe you’re looking for a twist that’ll make your piece stand out. Enter AI. Use programmes to create rough visual drafts based on prompts. Sometimes the results will be stunning; other times, they’ll be hilariously weird. Either way, it’s a spark. Think of it like you are brainstorming with someone who’s not afraid to say, “What if we tried this?”
Of course, the big question always comes up: Is it still art if an AI helped make it? My answer? Absolutely—if you’re using it as part of your creative process. Think about all the tools artists have embraced over the centuries. Cameras were once controversial, and now photography is a celebrated art form. Even the paintbrush was a revolutionary tool at one point! AI is just another tool in our kit, one that can amplify our vision rather than replace it.
The goal is always to remind ourselves that artistic creativity is about intent. The AI might help with ideas, but the heart of the piece—the why behind it—is all human.
There’s also something beautifully humbling about working with AI. It teaches us that creativity doesn’t belong to a single species. Patterns, textures, and shapes that we find stunning might be the result of a machine’s calculations, but the appreciation? That’s all us. And when you look at an AI-generated image and think, “Wow, that’s amazing,” you’re connecting with the idea that inspiration can come from anywhere.
But… and here’s the big BUT… we need to talk about balance. While AI can inspire us, it’s important not to let it do all the heavy lifting. True creativity often comes from the struggle, from pushing through the messy middle. If we lean on AI too much, we risk skipping that part, and that would be a loss.
So, where does that leave us? For me, it’s about embracing AI with curiosity and a critical eye. It’s about keeping the joy in the process. Because at the end of the day, whether you’re wielding a brush, a tablet, or a prompt generator, art is about connection. It’s about reaching out and saying, “This is how I see the world. How about you?”
So, let’s keep exploring, experimenting, and creating.
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