Hi! Welcome to the 4 CreativeWheels newsletter — your weekly dose of insights on creativity and fuel for your creative journey.

We’re on week #11. I’m getting back into my usual rhythm and work ethic. And I have so much to share with you. So, I’m excited about the future.

Talking about the future, in this week’s issue, we’ll talk about the battle between AI and human creativity and the third door we seldom mention.

Without further ado…

Let’s start the ride!

Main Wheel

Human beings can never fail to do one thing. And that thing is overanalyzing the present and overthinking the future. It’s natural for us to do so. It’s so natural that when we do it, we realize it minutes, hours, or even days later.

So, when we have a topic as poignant as AI and the future of the creative space, it’s a no-brainer to do our thing. However, today I let others do the over-analysis and overthinking for me.

I’ve also been thinking about AI. I can’t not admit that I’ve thought about worst-case scenarios over and over. While reading multiple takes, views, and opinions about AI and creativity, I paused. I started to reflect on what I actually believe about creativity.

My belief in creativity is not a unique one. It is certainly not an edgy one. But after the reading, listening, and watching, I realized that it’s also not a popular one.

I realized that not many see creativity truly as an essential. And that’s where my belief lies. Creativity is constantly viewed in a financial, employment, and craftsmanship lens. Though using these lenses isn’t wrong, it misses the core point.

It misses the core point why we, humans, started using and loving creativity. It’s not been a one-time thing. Nor has it been a thing that occurred in a specific era. It’s been here since human beings existed.

Yes, food, water, and air are the x-factors for survival. However, even when our civilization was not developed, we still tried to use creativity. It did not matter whether we had an abundant provision of the x-factors. Whenever we could use creativity, we did.

And that speaks volumes. Might it be that creativity and its use are essential to our survival as human beings, and not as mere intelligent animals? I believe and know so.

Countless times I have witnessed how creativity made life better. No matter the present situation, there was a space creativity carved for itself. It flows through and connects the rivers between each functioning human heart.

It’s been there to help us solve problems, entertain us, and bond us together. Human creativity has always made an impact on our world.

It enriched the content of human history. Hence, it would be a shame that it’s forsaken. Especially, if it’s forsaken and delegated fully to machines without our human touch.

In the battle between creativity and machines, we have two sides. There are two main camps when we talk AI and the future.

The first camp is kind of optimistic. It believes that AI will be used as a tool. It will be here to help us create faster and better. Moreover, it will remove the demand for most of the lazy and cheap work present today.

The second camp is not so optimistic. It mostly believes that as AI will be less expensive and will probably give way faster results, it’ll take every work. It will make no sense to have a human. Thus, with the sprinkles of corporate greed, AI will be the creative in the creative industry.

Though these two points have merit, I have a different idea. It's a silver lining that would work in the two different scenarios. And it can be done in whatever future we have.

However, there is a catch. It needs a certain group of humans. No, the group isn’t based on a common ethnicity, culture, place, or time. It’s based on a common belief.

The group is made of those who truly believe in the value and importance of human creativity and touch. And the task is simple: demonstrate why. These people need to show the value and importance of human creativity.

They need to show why it's important and relevant in the real world despite anything that statistics or corporations might say.

They would need to make their own companies that create through that belief. Whatever the product might be, the companies, groups, studios, businesses, etc., will use human creativity to create. They will use it to make their products or pieces, promote them, and share them with the world.

They won’t rely on AI. They could use some of its assets (if really need be). But the sole focus and foundation will remain human creativity with the human touch.

They will go against whatever current is formed by AI. They will bet on the human spirit.

A way of doing so could be AI does posters with high contrast and a lot of negative space. But these individuals would do it in a way that breaks the conventions. The conventions that AI uses and is trained by.

Heck, they could ditch the idea of using ads and go all in on one-on-one reachouts. They will go and share their little cards with a gift to each human they encounter. Then they will foster the connections made.

The creative alternatives are infinite. And even if you hold the same belief, but cannot directly prove its value through building or working in such companies, you would simply support those who do.

There is no need for all of us to be in the kitchen. It won’t be possible. However, it’ll be possible for all of us to be ready and receive the food served. It will be possible for all of us to appreciate the food and prove its worth.

Together, the two groups would revive and sustain that need and the fulfillment of that need. The need to not let human creativity die out.

Eventually, others, even those who don't hold the same belief, will get tired of the robotics content out there. And they will be more than happy to jump in the sea of amazing human-created work.

Still, it won't be for everyone. We're all used to seeking the most comfortable path. That's why, for instance, you'll hear many claiming, "Music nowadays is trash." However, when you ask them if they have checked out amazing artists Y or Z, they’ll mostly reply, "No."

Why is that so? The reason is, that it's easier to consume what's given to you aka Radio and playlists, than to search for yourself amazing artists that exist but are not promoted. This would be so in an AI-dominated future.

As most things available and promoted would be AI-certified, it would be difficult to find human-made ones. You'll most likely have to seek those gems yourself. And that's one thing many wouldn't be ready to do.

They would probably be tired of what is readily given. They would most likely wish that things change or things "get back to what they used to be." And they would most likely complain that human beings don't want to create anymore.

Hence, it will be tough for those who will choose to create in this circumstance.

It won’t be easy. That is why I said, those who truly believe in the value of human creativity and touch. Because if you don't, you will lack the energy and grit to work in a hostile environment. You will lack the needed tenacity to compete against the bots.

The competition will be fierce. It will require passion and belief to keep pushing through. The passion to show that, even when robots occupy most spaces, the space for our humanity will remain well and alive.

As the late Ronald Reagan once said, "There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect." And that’s the truth we’ve experienced in the past, are experiencing in the present, and will experience in the future.

So, cheers to the future and whatever challenges we’ll face!

Want to share this issue of 4CW with a friend, colleague,… any human being? Just copy and paste this link: https://4creativewheels.beehiiv.com/p/may-23-2024 😉 😃

Thank you so much for reading! 

As always, feel free to reply to this email & share your thoughts, stories, and any experience related to this topic. I’d love to hear them!  

C ya next Week! 

Embracing Creativity™,

Richard M.

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