Craft In the Age of AI
A while back, my astute 90-year-old mother-in-law was talking to me about quantum computers and AI. She had just finished Michio Kaku's book. As her grandson approached, she asked me what he should be learning as we enter the AI era.
There's no denying that AI is radically redefining the notion of craft. Regardless of industry, it is transforming how we make. We see advancements in AI-generated art, media, and software on a weekly basis now. In 1-2 years, we will see the first compelling AI-generated movie (assuming a human writes it).
While these new tools can empower us, they are simultaneously replacing us. Companies already use AI-generated images instead of hiring photographers or buying stock images, and freelance gigs for writing and design have reduced dramatically.
We've entered a techno-artistic revolution reminiscent of Louis Daguerre and Nicéphore Niépce's 1839 invention of the camera. Just as AI expands creative access for people untrained in the arts, the photo democratized portraiture for the lower and middle classes. Many felt the camera would lead to the banalization of art, but the invention of photography led to something extraordinary in painting—Impressionism.
Impressionists realized that photography surpassed painting in capturing fixed images of reality, prompting them to explore other dimensions such as color, light, and movement. Painters could now focus on conveying depictions and emotions that photography could not. Photography liberated painting, opening the door to more creative expressions of human imagination. It also birthed a new genre of creatives—the photographer.
However, creating in the AI era will mark a significant difference from the past. Instead of humans with cameras or paintbrushes exploring new territories, machines prompted by humans will create work at the potential expense of human makers. There will still be painters and photographers, and the good ones will likely be able to charge a premium. But making a livelihood with these skills will become increasingly difficult.
In many ways, tomorrow's state-of-the-art will render the mastery of yesterday's tools unnecessary. Whatever profession my son chooses must account for a future where our relationship with our tools will differ.
So what's a parent to do?
Yes, "AI is a tool that presents humans with new frontiers of creativity, suggesting a future where technology and art coalesce to explore uncharted territories of human imagination." At least, that is what ChatGPT said when I asked. While I agree to an extent, what skills should our young makers be learning?
My answer to my mother-in-law was for my son to double down on expressing his imagination. Until AI can replicate the beautiful mess of human imperfection and nuance that is our imagination, we will continue to play a vital role in the creative process. No matter which profession he pursues, critical thinking, original ideas, and the ability to articulate them will be essential.
Critical thinking will allow him to look at the world discerningly, helping him see patterns and linkages between ideas and events. As much as I want him to live a life full of rich experiences, I also want him to have a nuanced perspective to interpret them.
Critical thinking leads to original ideas, but expressing them will require conviction to think differently. I have already observed the significant influence that social media has on shaping his opinions. Generating original thought is already a challenge, but the more we use AI to augment our thinking, the rarer unique ideas will become. AI will fail us if human imagination is reduced to a hive mind of repeated memes.
None of this matters if my son can't articulate his thinking. In the age of AI, a significant component of craft will be the ability to 'paint' ideas with words. Writing excellent prompts and providing nuanced creative direction will be essential and in high demand.
In the end, the real challenge for my son's generation will not be mastering AI but harnessing it in ways that amplify their uniquely human gifts. AI can generate images and words but lacks the soul that fuels creativity—our inimitable perspective. If we want the next generation to thrive, they must be encouraged to think critically, imagine freely, and embrace their personal experiences as the source of true innovation. My greatest hope is that these new tools express, not replace, his human voice.
Ultimately, the true challenge for my son's generation will not be mastering AI, but in using it to elevate their uniquely human gifts. AI can generate words and images but will never possess the soul, imperfections, or lived experiences that fuel creativity. For the next generation to thrive, we must encourage them to think critically, imagine boldly, and draw from the well of their humanity. Only then will these powerful new tools express, rather than replace, the inimitable human voice that defines the best of what we make.
