Candace Bushnell on AI, creativity and why originality still wins

Candace Bushnell, the author behind Sex and the City, reflects on the enduring power of her writing and creativity in an age of AI. She started writing from a very personal perspective, focusing on New York and its residents, but found that her stories resonated globally. It wasn't until the 1990s that she began to feel the work was transcending its New York roots.

Despite the rise of the TV series, Bushnell maintains that her core identity remains that of a writer, not a brand. She does not see herself as a marketing entity, but as a creator producing unique content that only humans can produce. In a world where fleeting attention is the norm, she believes that a truly timeless work speaks for itself and stands out due to its originality and authenticity.

For aspiring creators today, she emphasizes the importance of embracing their unique creative processes, rather than relying on AI to replicate their style. While AI can mimic, it cannot replicate the evolving, human touch that makes true originality possible. Bushnell's transition from writing to television reveals the different demands and control levels of these mediums, but she sees both as valuable platforms for her creative expression.