Why AI can’t replace the creative struggle.
This spring, I sat at my desk to start my second novel. Instead, I got writer’s block. It’s a quaint affliction nowadays. Large-language models (LLMs) will generate five viable paths for a character in 10 seconds, making this torment feel almost elective. A few days later, a friend, who’s also a fiction writer, recommended a subscription-based LLM designed for hacks like me, who are fumbling…
The writer found themselves grappling with writer's block while attempting to start a second novel. Large language models (LLMs) can generate numerous viable paths for a character in mere seconds, making it seem as though this struggle is optional. A friend suggested using an LLM for writers experiencing difficulties. After testing an LLM, the writer was surprised by the 15-page passage that closely resembled their voice, pacing, and dialogue.
However, once the uncanny valley was crossed, the writer realized that the most important decisions were still theirs to make, such as what their characters should do, how they should feel, and the message they wanted to convey to readers.
This personal experience highlights a question many people, especially designers, are asking: how should creative intelligence be used effectively in conjunction with artificial intelligence? Having gone through this process, the writer has developed a set of principles to maintain creative intelligence in the driver's seat. These principles are applicable to anyone, not just struggling writers.
Firstly, embrace the weirdness of AI's labor process, which is focused on pattern recognition and converging on viable answers. Creative intelligence, on the other hand, involves free association and divergent thinking, which probes the weirdness of our brains and leads to unique ideas. This distinction between process and product is crucial, as AI-generated design often fails to create an emotional bond.
Real meaning, however, emerges through the application of human creative intelligence in various projects, such as building a pitch deck or sketching concepts for a restaurant.
Secondly, recognize that struggle is a feature, not a bug. Even though an LLM generated a viable chapter in the writer's novel, it did not eliminate the hand-wringing over story arc, character motivation, and conflict. In fact, the writer found that the AI-written chapter served as a catalyst for deeper reflection, reaffirming the importance of applying creative intelligence in decision-making.
Lastly, define and claim your contribution. While AI can assist in automating tasks, the human element is essential in determining the emotional direction of the work. AI models are becoming increasingly adept at calculations, making it essential to focus on what is uniquely and inseparably ours, and assert it confidently. This reclamation of human touch is applicable across various industries, though the specifics may differ.
Ultimately, embracing the weirdness of AI, understanding that struggle is a feature, and defining one's contribution are essential steps in maintaining creative intelligence in the face of artificial intelligence.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
