Rising Above Generative AI

How to navigate the toxicity of generative AI and the impact it is having on our society, culture, and collective human experience.

When deciding on a topic for my blog posts, I like to choose one that explores some aspect of the human experience, and then I enjoy examining that topic from both a science and a spirit perspective. I believe now is the time to have open discussions about the technology that is literally re-shaping who we are. It’s time for awareness, ethics, and integrity to become the driving force behind what happens next with this technology.

Those of you familiar with my work are probably aware of my ongoing stance against the use of generative AI. But let’s clarify what generative AI is and is not. I’m not talking about traditional AI, machine learning, and technology used to classify and analyze existing data for the sake of making predictions. I’m talking about generative AI — which can generate content based on text prompts input by the user. The data these programs are trained on has been scraped from existing copyrighted material, often without consent from the original creators.

We’ve all seen it. Most of us resent it.

For the sake of this post, I’m not interested in debating whether it’s theft, nor will I be listing all the ways that it’s harming the environment. (It is, and it does.)

The only way to change minds is to change hearts.

I think we need to take a serious step back, and reexamine what it means to be human.

The Devaluation Problem

Possibly the most heartbreaking result of generative AI is that it discourages newer generations of artists from pursuing their gifts. Imagine the child who loves to draw or paint watching a parent generate an elaborate portrait in seconds using a text prompt. What about the kid with the wild imagination who learns that nobody needs his storytelling when AI can spit out an entire book in minutes? Or the musician who isn’t needed anymore because his buddy just cranked out a completed song with only a text prompt?

How can anyone aspire to become a creative professional when the time and effort required to master a craft are constantly devalued?

We already know the creative arts help kids build the critical emotional, physical, and cognitive skills necessary to succeed in life. Self-expression is achieved through creative outlets. I’d argue that prompting doesn’t meet the criteria.

And what will happen to these kids if they lose their motivation? What might convince them it’s still worth the effort to learn the instrument, perfect the skill, and chase the dream?

What will happen to us, as a civilization, if we demotivate all the artists out of existence?

Human Authenticity in the Digital Age

I think we can all agree that art is a reflection of who we are. It also shapes who we become.

Since ancient times, art has served as a record across languages, religions, and societies. It reflects the ideals of an era, a culture, or an individual. The act of creating facilitates emotional growth and expression which allows us to connect with ourselves and with each other. When a human writes a poem, composes a song, or paints a picture—that is an expression of their essence in tangible form. How awesome is that?

Why, then, are we so willing to hand over that aspect of our human experience? A machine using silicon-based hardware and code-driven software cannot be sentient. Generative AI cannot be creative. All it can do is create outputs that resemble the human-made data it has already been given.

This is where things get dangerous in a society that is consumed by a desire to monetize everything. Too many people only care about “beating the algorithm.”  Performative pressure has some chasing likes, clicks, purchases—at the expense of remaining authentic.

Especially in the creative arts, if you treat every piece of content as a resource to optimize, monetize, and replicate as efficiently as possible, you will ultimately strip away any real emotional meaning.

And that is exactly what is happening with all this generative-AI content. When we are willing to forgo quality for quantity, and trade skill for scale — we can all feel the difference. The lack of effort translates into a lack of purpose. And the results are already becoming repetitive.

As AI self-cannibalizes, it will take originality along with it.

I hope we rediscover our collective appreciation for authenticity before we have nothing left to evolve into.

The Dangers of the AI Witch Hunt

It is understandable that people are becoming more skeptical of the content they consume. Everywhere we turn, we’re inundated with AI generated books, music, images, and video. For those trying to be conscientious of what you’re engaging with—I commend you.

However, I also encourage you to exercise caution. Because the only thing worse than using generative AI yourself, is falsely accusing someone else of using it. There is nothing more soul-crushing to a real artist, than to spend countless hours pouring their heart into the craft, only to be accused of the very thing they’re working so hard against.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between AI-generated content and authentically human-generated creative work. Let’s not forget that AI platforms were trained on the work of real artists. And those artists are still out there, trying to find the motivation to keep going.  

Supporting Real Artists

For those of us who dislike generative AI, what should we do?

We’ve all heard the phrase “negative attention is still attention.” We also know that arguing with facts, logic, or intellectual reasoning is rarely what persuades someone to change their beliefs.

I believe it’s perfectly reasonable to disengage with content that doesn’t resonate. Instead, I would encourage you to actively support the artists creating the things you care about. For many artists, a kind word or a simple acknowledgement of how much you appreciate their work can go a long way. Connection is the point. Encouragement is free.

When you can, support creative professionals by choosing their products and services. They may not be the least expensive option, but without them — there would be no art to cheapen.

This concept isn’t reserved for consumers and businesses. Artists themselves can easily fall into this trap. It happens when an author uses AI instead of hiring an illustrator for their book. It happens when a musician uses AI for their music video instead of the video professional. The list goes on… and each time we do this, we hurt each other.

As a professional multimedia developer, artist, musician, and writer, I’ve spent my entire life nurturing my talent and honing my skills through formal education, practice, and long working hours. I can’t imagine doing anything else. And I understand too well, unfortunately, the damage done to creatives’ livelihoods since the proliferation of Generative AI content.

This world is a demoralizing place for creatives right now. How can we collectively band together to protect each other, and support each other?

Technology is a good thing—when used ethically and with the right intention.

Personally, my intention is to always rise above generative AI.