We asked our creative community how they're using AI. This is what we found out.

Aug 16, 2023

Those questions - usually related to fears of robotic overlords or a complete lack of culture and creativity, or both. Yet, in spite of those fears, AI has already stitched its way into the workflows of people across the globe - and is showing no sign that it is slowing. So what does that translate to creative work and those who create it?

Anyone in the creative field will inform that, the human component which is emotions, creativity, meaningful art is inaccessible to machines. It is also impossible to brainstorm or think up ideas without human input and is positioned, nearly through necessity, as tools rather than total replacements. "It's lots of prompts, and trials and error" photographer Rachel Hulin.

The emergence of generative AI can undoubtedly change how we operate, however it is a smart approach to use and could not be completely in contrast to the artistic disciplines. To test this theory We surveyed creatives across the community who have started to explore AI and to discover what they're doing with it today and how they envision it changing their work in the future. We've gathered the responses from them, and what they think of the future of AI in the realm of creativity.

 AI is powering solo creative work

Like any filmmaker will explain, creating a movie (or really, any piece of content) is a collaborative art. Films require input from those with specialist skills and are the result from a combination of ideas. But for many independent creators, AI is opening a world of possibilities for creators to write and produce independent projects.

In creating his own script and then generating short video clips by using AI technology to sync up to his own vision, Paul could build out an original animated and visually enthralling Staff Picked video through curating the content's visuals digitally.

 AI has changed our visual language

Since AI imagery, at the very least in the moment - is displaying the uncanny valley effect (a term meant to describe your feeling of apprehension when you see a computer-generated image which is unsatisfactory) This makes it very easy to spot. Throughout our conversations, we found that filmmakers frequently gravitated toward images created by AI because because of the distinct characteristic.

The case for Paul Trillo, being able to create his latest short on his own was an excellent way to execute a concept on limited resources - but it was the aesthetic design of the piece that made him want to utilize the tech. "In an aspect, making use of AI as a way to provide you with choices is very similar to direct," he says. "It gives you aberrations and happy accidents, which are things that can't be prompted as well as being fascinating elements that you can learn from."

"I would like to embrace the natural style that AI videos were creating rather than attempting to change it. Right now, it's more interesting as its own aesthetic."   Paul Trillo, Filmmaker

Chris Carboni, who used the first Version of MidJourney to create the enchanting "HAIRY POUTER," was also impressed by AI's bizarre versions of his ideas. "We really liked the style of art that AI could come up with in just a few rounds of regenerating images," Chris says. Chris.

"We allowed the AI really come up with intriguing interpretations. And when we found one that we really liked we urged the AI to follow that line to ensure that it would be consistently entertaining and just effortless to follow."

"It's an exciting time," says Laen Sanches. "It's an opportunity to discover new ways of telling my stories. It's a journey of new methods, tools, and thrilling opportunities."

 AI is clearing more room for creative thinking

In nearly every conversation, we found that the people we talked to were particularly pleased to employ AI in order to stay away from the boring tasks that full-time artists requires - so they can return to what it is they love most.

Multimedia producer Romke Hoogwaerts relies on AI to simply work more efficiently, no matter the project. "I utilize AI to automate my busy work," says Romke. "I've been using it for sending business emails, and even quoting clients for work. AI is always going to be most effective at doing the heavy lifting of simple jobs."

Chris Carboni, too, utilizes AI to keep his email inbox clear and his projects organized. "I enjoy using AI to enhance my emails and also as a personal assistant that can answer questions, explaining complex ideas, and handling rote work."

 AI is an artificial intelligence tool that is not an entirely new skill

Through all of our conversations that we had, we discovered common ground among our filmmakers and creatives in the use of AI to enhance and extend and enhance work, not to replace it. "I'm trying to look at this as not being a matter of "They're taking away my job or 'They're taking my job away,'" says Jordan. "It's more of a "Ok, so what am I going to do use it for in the present What can I do with it now?'"

Rachel Hulin, for example, used AI to create the appearance of a camera that had been lost in times: "One of my favorite cameras has gone out of production however I'm able to use AI to replicate that analog aesthetic."

Jordan Clarke, who works primarily as a director and animator, used AI to help him become more comfortable in the art of writing. "I've always felt nervous when I create," he says. "So I thought"well, if I write through the AI, I can use it as a creative tool."

There are many artists who want to investigate the new technologies at their fingertips, AI has become a means of creating work that wouldn't have otherwise been feasible - instead of simply duplicate or replacing existing processes.

"There are both good as well as bad ways to utilize the technology," Paul adds. "For a lot of people, it's really making work that couldn't ever have existed prior to. It's opening a portal to the world of possibilities which wouldn't be there." For others, AI is simply offering a new stage for creatives to tell the stories they've wanted to tell for years.