When you listen to discussions in the creative industry, you often encounter skepticism or even open rejection of artificial intelligence. Especially in literature and publishing, AI is not yet well-received when it comes to creating creative works like books. Many view the use of AI in the creation of literary works as a kind of sacrilege against the purity of the creative process.
But I am convinced: AI is here to stay. The technological development cannot be stopped, and those who don't move with the times will ultimately be left behind. This doesn't mean we should uncritically accept every technological innovation. Rather, we should try to understand the technology and meaningfully integrate it into our creative processes.
In recent years, we have witnessed enormous advances in the development of AI systems that are increasingly capable of producing human-like creative outputs. This development affects virtually all creative fields – from literature and art to music and film production.
In literature, we now have AI systems capable of composing coherent texts on a wide variety of topics. From short stories to longer narratives, these systems can produce texts that, at first glance, are hardly distinguishable from those written by humans.
I believe that using AI for a first draft is perfectly legitimate, as long as you don't simply submit a prompt and publish the supposedly "finished" book on Amazon five minutes later. Publishing a book involves much more:
These are all steps that AI doesn't yet master well. It can assist, but not replace the entire creative process.
In the visual arts, AI systems like DALL-E, Midjourney, or Stable Diffusion have caused a sensation. These systems can generate impressive images based on text descriptions. Many artists already use these tools as part of their creative process to find inspiration or visualize concepts before actual implementation.
The controversy is particularly intense here, with discussions about copyright, artistic authenticity, and whether AI-generated art can be considered "art" at all.
As a software developer in the IT industry, I experience the effects of the AI revolution firsthand. Systems like GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT can now write, debug, and optimize programming code. They can create simple websites, implement APIs, and even solve more complex programming tasks.
Looking at the development of the last 2-3 years can give one pause for thought. While my current position as an experienced developer is not yet immediately replaceable by AI, there are certainly areas where simpler programming tasks can already be fully automated. Creating a single-page website for the small store around the corner, once a typical task for freelancers or junior developers, can now be realized in a few hours with the help of AI.
The integration of AI into creative fields understandably triggers fears and resistance. These concerns are not unfounded and deserve serious consideration.
One of the biggest worries is the fear that AI could replace human creatives. If an algorithm is capable of writing a novel, painting a picture, or composing a melody, why would we still need human authors, artists, or musicians?
This concern is not completely unfounded. In the history of technology, there are numerous examples of professions that became obsolete due to automation. Nevertheless, experience also shows that new technologies typically don't lead to a net reduction in jobs, but rather to a shift towards new, often more demanding activities.
In the creative field, this could mean that routine aspects of production are automated, while human creatives can focus on conceptual, emotional, and innovative aspects.
Another concern relates to the authenticity and originality of AI-generated works. Can an algorithm truly create something "new," or does it merely combine existing patterns in new ways?
This question is philosophically complex and touches on fundamental concepts such as creativity, consciousness, and the nature of artistic expression. It's important to understand that AI systems are trained on data created by humans. They learn patterns and structures and can then combine them in new ways.
One could argue that this is not fundamentally different from the human creative process, which is also based on experience, influences, and learned patterns. The difference may lie less in the nature of the process than in its consciousness and intentionality.
The use of AI in creative processes also raises ethical questions:
These questions have no easy answers and require ongoing societal discussion as well as regulatory adjustments.
Despite all legitimate concerns, I believe that AI is best viewed as a tool that complements and extends human creativity, rather than replacing it.
In my view, there's nothing wrong with using AI for a first draft, as long as you don't simply submit a prompt and publish the result unchanged. Creating a book, a film, or any other creative work involves much more than just the initial production.
A typical workflow might look like this:
In this process, the human creative remains the conductor, while AI serves as an instrument.
It's important to note that despite all progress, AI still has significant limitations. AI systems can generate impressive texts, images, or melodies, but they don't really understand what they're producing. They have no consciousness, no emotions, and no intentions.
This leads to various limitations:
These limitations mean that human creatives will remain indispensable for the foreseeable future, especially for works that require depth, originality, and cultural relevance.
As a software developer in the IT industry, I have a unique perspective on the AI revolution. I experience both the excitement about new possibilities and the concern about displacement firsthand.
The development in the field of AI over the last 2-3 years is breathtaking. What was science fiction not long ago is now reality. From automatic code generation to intelligent development environments that proactively identify and fix errors, AI has fundamentally changed the way software is developed.
When I started software development more than a decade ago, I couldn't have imagined that I would one day collaborate with AI systems that help me develop complex algorithms or optimize database structures.
This development has already led to a transformation of the IT industry. Simple programming tasks that were previously handled by junior developers can now be partially or fully automated. This leads to a shift in requirements and a realignment of competencies.
The successful developers of tomorrow will not be those who can code the fastest, but those who can best collaborate with AI systems. It's less about writing every line of code yourself and more about understanding how to effectively use AI tools to solve complex problems.
An interesting comparison that illustrates how technology can transform creative processes without devaluing them is the evolution of the film industry, particularly in the area of visual effects.
In the early days of film, all effects were practically implemented - from hand-built miniatures to stop-motion animation to elaborate masks and prosthetics. This craftsmanship required enormous skill and creativity.
With the advent of computer graphics (CGI) in the 1980s and 1990s, there was initially significant resistance. Many filmmakers and fans feared that the "soul" of film would be lost if practical effects were replaced by computer-generated ones.
Today, CGI effects are used in virtually every major film, often in combination with practical effects. And while some purists still prefer practical effects, the vast majority of viewers and filmmakers have accepted and come to appreciate the new technology.
I love the Alien films of the '80s, but I enjoy today's Alien films just as much. Does it bother me that spaceships are no longer built in a workshop like in the original, but are 100% created by computers? Not really. I still enjoy the films and allow myself to be captivated by them.
The parallels to the current situation with AI are obvious. Here too, there is a new technology that challenges and transforms existing processes. Here too, there is resistance and fears that something essential could be lost.
And just like with the development of film effects, there will likely be an integration where AI is accepted as another tool in the creative arsenal, without craftsmanship and human creativity losing their importance.
I am convinced that in the future, we will see similar developments in literature, music, and other creative fields. As long as I read a book and am captivated by the story, I see no problem in the fact that it wasn't written 100% by hand - just as I have no problem with the fact that the spaceships in my favorite films are no longer built by hand.
What might the future of creative production look like in a world where AI is an integral part of the creative process? Here are some thoughts and predictions:
Instead of viewing AI as a threat, we could experience a future where human creatives and AI systems collaborate in novel ways. Imagine an author working with an AI system that provides real-time feedback, suggests alternative formulations, or researches historical details.
Or think of a composer experimenting with an AI that is capable of interpreting and developing musical ideas in various styles. This kind of collaboration could lead to works that neither the human nor the AI could have created alone.
A positive development could be the democratization of creative expression. Not everyone has the talent or training to become a great writer, artist, or musician. AI tools could enable more people to share their ideas and stories with the world.
Imagine a person with a great story but limited writing skills who could, with the help of AI, still tell that story in a compelling way. Or someone with a musical vision but without formal training who could bring that vision to life with the help of AI.
As with any technological disruption, there will likely be specialization and the emergence of new niches. While some aspects of the creative process may be automated, new roles and specializations could develop.
We might see "AI whisperers" - experts who are particularly skilled at guiding and collaborating with AI systems. Or "AI curators" who select the most valuable and interesting from the mass of AI-generated content.
New artistic movements might also emerge, either explicitly focused on collaboration with AI or, in reaction to it, advocating a return to purely human creativity.
Given the inevitability of AI integration, it's important to develop guidelines for responsible and productive use of these tools.
Here are some suggestions for ethical guidelines when using AI in creative processes:
In addition to ethical considerations, there are practical aspects that should be considered when integrating AI into creative processes:
With all the excitement about the possibilities of AI, it's important not to lose the human touch. Creativity is ultimately a deeply human expression, and the best works will always be those that reflect a human perspective, emotion, and life experience.
Here are some strategies to preserve the human touch:
As a software developer who is confronted daily with the effects of the AI revolution, and as someone who values the importance of creative expression, I am convinced that the way forward lies in adaptation and integration, not in resistance.
AI is here to stay, and it will change the way we create and consume creative works. But this change doesn't have to be threatening. It can be an enrichment, a new chapter in the long history of human creativity.
The challenge is to find a way to use these new tools without losing what makes creative work meaningful: human expression, emotional resonance, the connection between creator and audience.
I am optimistic that we will find this path, just as previous generations managed to integrate new technologies, from the printing press to photography to the digital age. Each of these innovations initially triggered fears and resistance, but eventually became an integral part of our creative ecosystem.
In a world where AI is becoming increasingly present, those who learn to coexist and cooperate with it, who extend their own creative expression through the new possibilities, rather than clinging to outdated notions, will be successful.
And just as I appreciate both the handcrafted Alien models of the '80s and the computer-generated creatures of the latest films equally today, future generations may be able to appreciate both purely human-created works and those created in collaboration with AI.
Art, literature, music, and all other forms of creative expression will continue to live and thrive, perhaps in new forms and with new tools, but always as an expression of what it means to be human.
How do you feel about the use of AI in creative processes? Feel free to let me know on social media!