This is my personal view. I am Vincent, a debut author and designer creative.
We are standing on the edge of a shift that is as big as the arrival of the internet. But unlike previous technological revolutions, this one isn’t about learning to code or mastering a complicated instrument. It is about something much deeper.
It is about Automata and Anima.
In the past, we focused on Automata: the self-moving mechanics, the automation and the processing of data.
But the future belongs to Anima: the soul, the life force, and the creative transformation.
There is a fear that AI will replace us. But looking at the future of jobs, creative thinking is projected to be one of the most critical skills by 2030. Why? Because as machines get better at the execution, the soul of the creation must come from you.
Don’t just look. See!
We are entering an era of deepfakes and infinite synthetic media. If we can no longer trust our eyes to tell us what is real, our human intuition becomes our most valuable asset.
We need to change the way we interact with the world. We must stop simply looking at things and start asking ourselves: “What am I actually seeing?”
In a world filled with AI-generated noise, human connection is the thing that cuts through. The best ideas don’t come from staring at a prompt box. They come from collaboration, from brainstorming, from that spark that happens when people talk to people. AI can build the house, but human connection provides the foundation.
What about the robots? Will they replace us?
More and more companies are getting ready to sell robots, or already do. These robots will help do everyday chores, such as vacuuming. If they can help us to do things we do not like to do, I am up for that. However, it is one thing to replace humans in a factory doing repetitive tasks. It is another to invite a humanoid into our home, not knowing what will happen to our privacy and safety. Maybe I have watched I, Robot too many times, but I am skeptical! However, I am pretty sure humans will stick around and so will our creativity.
See below: do you think this is a sight we will see in our lifetime? A humanoid robot creating a sunset like Monet?
Enlighten don’t replace.
Here is the most exciting part: Everything you have in your head can now become reality.
Well almost. AI is improving by the day and so are your options. My personal goal is to transform my books into movies. AI is still limited there, but I am confident I am getting there.
For years, we have been limited by our hands. Maybe you had a vision for a world but couldn’t draw. Maybe you had a story but didn’t have the budget for a film crew (like me). Those barriers are gone or getting slim.
We are moving from a time where humans were the sole drivers of innovation to a time of Co-Creation with AI. You don’t need to master the instrument to let the music emerge.
AI should not replace your creativity; it should enlighten and enhance it. It is a flashlight that brightens the dark corners of your imagination that you previously couldn’t reach.
Don’t replace? I mean it will not replace your creativity!
Sidenote: AI will replace jobs. There is nothing I can do about that. Or you, probably. The biggest companies on the planet are pouring billions of dollars in its development. Like the Internet, it will leave a mark on our society. And jobs will be replaced in the creative industry as well. Actors, writers and other creatives will be without a job.
As sad as that is, I remain positive. Change always comes with growth pains. I just truly believe in the power of our creativity to solve the problems we face today. People losing their job is not simply something I dismiss as collateral damage. I just don’t believe in sticking our head in the sand.
I hear a lot of famous, influential designers talk about the role of creatives and how they work with their hands. I agree with them to some degree, but I believe our most valuable tool is our creative mind. Whether the tool is a hammer and chisel or AI. It is up to you what you do with it.
The director’s mindset
So, how do you use these tools without losing your soul? How do you ensure you don’t just become another person pressing a button to get a generic result?
The Captain’s Chair: Developing Creative Confidence
If you let AI do all the thinking, it will create something that might look perfect, but feels empty. It can create for anyone, so why is it creating for you?
Questions such as these become increasingly important:
- What is your unique world view?
- Why does your story need to be told?
- What is the Anima you are breathing into the Automata?
To do this, we need to shed our insecurity. We need Creative Confidence. As David Kelley from IDEO famously explained, creativity isn’t a rare gift for the chosen few; it’s a muscle we all have. (Watch David Kelley’s 60 minutes interview on Creative Confidence here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYkb6vfKMI4)
Join Me in Designing the Future
I am going to take you behind the scenes of my creative process. I won’t just show you how to write a prompt. I will show you how to take a fragment of an idea in your mind and shepherd it through AI tools to create something that is 100% yours.
We will look at examples of AI art that has “soul” versus AI art that is just empty pixels. We will visualize the world building of my books, design covers, and eventually, work toward a full visualization of my stories.
The question is not whether or not we should use AI. We should!
The question is whether you have the creative confidence to bring your ideas to life or not. Because AI will help you overcome your limitations, but only you can provide the vision.
Interested in my journey? Follow along!
Subscribe to my YouTube channel here and let’s design the future together.
Disclaimer: I have no vlogging experience so I will make a lot of mistakes. Hopefully so you won’t have to 🙂
Ready to experience the story? Start Blood & Water: Inner Fire today.