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AI vs Creativity: The Real Story Nobody Covers

3d ago3 min brief

The debate about AI vs creativity is misguided because it assumes that AI is a replacement for human creativity, rather than a tool that can augment and enhance it. This assumption has led to a lot of fear and misinformation about the impact of AI on jobs in creative fields. However, the truth is that AI is not causing the loss of artistic jobs, even as it factors into tasks for some roles. In fact, data shows that earnings trends for artistic occupations with higher exposure to generative AI look broadly similar to those with lower exposure.

The evidence suggests that AI is not a threat to creativity, but rather a collaborator. For example, music directors and composers have an exposure score of about 0.7, which means that a substantial portion of their tasks involve composition or production that AI tools may help draft or modify. However, this does not mean that AI is replacing human composers, but rather that it is assisting them in their work. Similarly, special effects artists and animators have a score of 0.54, which means that AI is also being used to assist in the creation of visual effects and animations.

The primary work in creative fields involves live presence, interpretation, and physical skill that generative AI cannot easily substitute. For instance, dancers have an exposure score of about 0.04, which means that their work is largely unaffected by AI. Actors have a score of around 0.18, which means that while AI may be used in some aspects of film and theater production, it is not replacing human actors. Craft artists and choreographers have scores of around 0.27 to 0.28, which means that AI is also not a major factor in their work.

Despite the fears about AI replacing human creativity, the data shows that artistic occupations with higher exposure to generative AI have experienced modest job growth and even a rise in earnings in some cases. In fact, employees in artistic occupations report using AI frequently, with about one-in-four saying they use AI for idea generation and creative exploration. This suggests that AI is being used as a tool to enhance human creativity, rather than replace it.

As we move forward, it is time to rethink the debate about AI vs creativity. Rather than seeing AI as a threat, we should be embracing it as a collaborator that can help us to create new and innovative works of art. By working together with AI, we can unlock new possibilities for human creativity and push the boundaries of what is possible. The future of creativity is not about AI vs human, but about AI and human working together to create something new and exciting.

Editorial perspective - synthesised analysis, not factual reporting.

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