Wellness with Anand

Will AI complement our art or replace it?

I am both a user of AI and a skeptic. I see its benefits in terms of research, bouncing ideas, saving time, and more. When I used it in a previous role, I was nervous that it would do my thinking for me and I resisted it internally.

I’ve learned over the years that if I resist something, I should at least have some knowledge of what it is I am resisting. So I subscribed to newsletters, followed AI thought leaders on LinkedIn, and listened in on the conversation—both the advocates and naysayers.

As part of these discussions, I saw AI-generated images, songs, writing, the appropriation of actors’ voices, and so forth. It got me thinking: will it complement our art or replace it?

The definition of art according to Merriam-Webster dictionary is:

4 a: the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects

I am not referring to religious works of art, but art in its broad sense. When I see, hear, taste, touch, or smell a work of art that is aesthetic pleasing for me, it transports me beyond the everyday and evokes feelings of awe, wonder, or simple joy.

The Pain and Beauty of Creating

I like to create. In my case it is predominately drawing, painting, and sometimes writing. I wrote and self published a novel over ten years ago and I paused creativity when I moved into meditation. It is now calling me back and one aspect of creating art is that it can be beautiful and painful. There is a not knowing of how the piece will turn out. The inner judge and critic arises to tell me its crap, so I either stop, get frustrated, or push through.

More recently I push through, and I am learning to forgive my mistakes. There are moments though when I capture something in the drawing or painting I do and it uniquely expresses something of my essence, which I believe is in all art forms and art works.

What AI Cannot Do

AI can scan it, copy it, and do a version of art that it draws from human knowledge on the internet; kind of like a music mash-up. I wonder though does AI go through the pain of creating? Is it conscious of itself? Does it know what beauty is? Does it feel something of the beyond?

I believe that is not the case. I don’t know enough if it could in the future, but if I hand the process of creating to a Machine Learning programme, I lose out on the process of creating. I no longer produce, I no longer consciously consider or attempt to create something, I no longer learn how to fail once, twice, or more and keep going until I improve. I no longer offer others the opportunity to enjoy, ignore, or loath the work of art I create.

What We Risk Losing

Conversely, if all creators: be they singers, musicians, painters, poets, writers, sculptors, actors, designers, filmmakers and so forth, hand it over to AI, will we all receive recycled arts that never reveal the essence of its creator?

What will be lost is the act of creativity itself, of staring at a blank page, a blank canvas, a lump of rock, an music sheet, and not filling them with our unique essence and flavour. We will lose the learning, the discipline, of going at it again and again, we will miss the frustration, the boredom, and the sheer relief and delight when we complete it. We will miss the full canvas, the completed manuscript, the sculpture that emerged from the rock, or the completed song or music that fills our ears.

Living in the Age of Transformation

I work with clients throughout Ireland (Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick) and internationally who are navigating rapid change and transformation. Many feel bewildered by the pace of technological advancement, uncertain about what to hold onto and what to let go of.

This is where emotional wellness coaching and meditation practice can support you. They help us stay rooted when everything around us is shifting.

If you find the pace of change bewildering right now and overwhelming in this age of rapid transformation, there are practices and support that can help you navigate it without losing yourself in the process.

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Reflection Questions

• What is your relationship with creating something; whether it’s art, music, writing, etc?
• How do you respond when your inner critic shows up in the creative process? Do you avoid creating or go for it anyway?
• What role do you want AI to play in your creative life? Where do you draw the line?

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Resources & Related Content

If you found this helpful, you might also enjoy:

• Emotional Wellness Coaching – Support for navigating change, overwhelm, and finding your authentic voice
• Meditation – Practices that help you stay grounded amidst rapid transformation
• Free Resources – Guided meditations and tools for managing overwhelm

Feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change?

If you’re finding it difficult to stay centered in this age of rapid transformation—whether it’s AI, workplace changes, or personal transitions—book a free 60-minute Insight Call to explore how coaching or meditation might support you.

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What are your thoughts on AI and creating? I’d love to hear from you. Share your perspective in the comments below or reach out at info@wellnesswithanand.com.

PS: I appreciate this blog does not relate entirely to coaching, meditation, or emotional wellness in the traditional sense, but it does relate to life, change, and creating; all of which are part of the human journey we’re navigating together.

PPS: I had a weird, weird feeling when I asked AI to review this blog for SEO support. While all the words are mine, it wrote the CTA and SEO parts.