Wellness with Anand

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 have 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 compliment 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.

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.

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.

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?

Some things to consider? Feel free to share your thoughts below in the comments.

PS: I appreciate this blog does not relate entirely to coaching, meditation, or Reiki, but it does relate to life, change, and creating. If you find the pace of change right now is bewildering and overwhelming in this age of rapid transformation, book a free discovery call to see how emotional wellness or meditation coaching can support you.

PPS: All my blogs are written by myself without the support of AI so all typos, mistakes, and aesthetics are mine alone.