some thoughts on GenAI
Oh how easily we've come to dismiss the creative process in favour of creating 'polished' work.
No doubt, there will be arguments about how GenAI is 'aiding' the creative process, it's allowing even more people into the creative spaces and how that's a fantastic thing. Obviously, this isn't speaking on the moral issues that have been brought into question around the use of data or the numerous issues around copyright.
GenAI isn't aiding the creative process, it's replacing it.
There is no improving at GenAI art, there is no stumbling on happy accidents, there is no excitement to create a piece you're truly proud of, because your AI art has no meaning to you other than looking pretty.
It is well presented, superficial dross.
It's a case of 'work smarter not harder', when we should focus on 'anything worth having, doesn't come easy'.
Creativity is a way of taking up space in the world and saying "I'm here and this is what I have to say". It's the work created in spite of all the pain, work created during the height of love or even the work that was created simply because in that moment, it couldn't be contained within you.
The end result was never the point.
That's why creativity isn't easy, it's fucking scary.
You will never be scared of sharing GenAI art, you will never have a pit in the bottom of your stomach that screams for you not to share what you've created because you feel nobody cares.
The saddest part is that everyone is wildly creative, but we've become so desensitised to ourselves and our voices that we feel the only way to be creative is by having a machine do the bit that actually matters.
It will remain my hope that people come to understand the need for a real creative process because that's where you'll be able to find meaning beyond 'oh, this looks so cool' and while that has it's place, I don't believe it will ever be enough to sustain a creative soul.