Are you a User?

How many of you out there are using something like ChatGPT for writing your blog posts or short stories? Do any of you feel guilty for using it? Maybe you don’t feel guilty but I’m sure the question arises in your mind about whether you can really claim to be creative if using a tool like this. The rise of generative AI in creative fields has sparked a discussion and debate about the ethics and authenticity of using such tools.  I would like to suggest that we should recognize this new technology for what it is... a tool.  I might be oversimplifying this but let’s think about this. 

Throughout history, every significant leap forward in art and science has been facilitated by the invention or adaptation of tools.  I liken technology to a perpetual motion machine, the development of one tool increases technological prowess and accelerates the progress of and inventions of other tools (We always hear that technology is on an exponential growth curve).  For example, a rock was the first hammer used to flake shards from other rocks for arrow heads and spear heads.  The wheel made a huge difference in the ease of one man to move a lot of weight at one time.  The telescope revolutionized our understanding of the solar system. 

These tools have allowed for the refinement of themselves resulting in the complex machinery today responsible for building massive cranes used to erect skyscrapers, facilitating the massive cargo capabilities of trains and semi-trucks, and the James Webb Telescope that is still blowing our minds with new knowledge of the universe.  People design tools to make the achievement of tasks more convenient and efficient.

So why shouldn’t we give Generative AI this consideration? Perhaps it's because we're still grappling with the implications of what it means to have such a powerful tool at our fingertips. In the past, if a person had a design idea for a new product, they would have to go to a manufacturer to get it made.  Now we have 3D printing and it’s always getting better.  Or, creating a blockbuster film or a hit album required the resources of large studios and corporations. They had the money, the equipment, and the distribution networks that individual creators couldn't hope to match.

But for the first time the means of production is becoming more accessible to the individual.  And what happens when those resources become widely accessible?   What happens when you or I can create high-quality art, research, or even entertainment right from our laptops?

With advanced software for video editing, sound engineering, and now generative AI for everything from scriptwriting to music composition, the playing field is leveling. The monopoly that large corporations had on creativity is crumbling. We're entering an era where the individual has unprecedented power to articulate their vision, without the need for a middleman.

But…

Of course, this democratization of creative tools isn't a magic wand that will instantly level all playing fields. Governments and corporations, with their vast resources, could still find ways to harness these technologies for their exclusive benefit. Imagine a future where writer strikes are rendered moot because studios have AI systems that can churn out complete and compelling scripts as a result of few or even one relatively clever person throwing prompts at a proprietary Large Language Model.

The key is to be proactive rather than reactive. As these tools become more accessible, it's up to the artists, the writers, the researchers—to seize them and use them to articulate our unique visions. The more this is done, the more we keep the doors to a diverse and vibrant creative landscape open.

But most importantly the time is for audiences to make a decision. In a world where anyone can be a creator, the power of the audience to curate, support, and elevate work they find meaningful becomes even more critical. Platforms like Patreon and Kickstarter have already shown us that people are willing to directly support creators they believe in. As the middlemen fade away, the connection between creator, content and audience becomes more direct, more authentic.

So what?

Technologies like AI and web 3.0 are giving the people a significant choice.  So, as we stand on the cusp of this new era, let's ask ourselves: What kind of world do we want to build, rather than what kind of world should we fear.

I love the idea of open sourcing a work of art like a song, or a story or even a movie.