Should Creators Really be Worried About AI?
No technology in the history of man has ever come along and eliminated all work. What technology does is change the work that’s needed.
All things—no matter what it is, no matter how good and how long the run—will change at some point. In the creative world, this is especially true.
As creatives, we have to learn to adapt. Too many of us get too comfortable or stubborn and try to dig in and insist people support things they don’t want or need just because we’re offering it.
That’s not how business works.
What we do is done by us, not for us ~Knowgoodwriter
The purpose of any business, even a creative one, is to fulfill demands in the marketplace. You do that by either offering something that’s appealing or something that provides solutions.
If you aren’t doing one of those two things, what you’re offering has no value.
As creatives, it’s easy to forget we’re not here to serve ourselves. We’re here to serve others.
Sure, your service may come in the form of work you enjoy, but if that work is focused on you and your preferences, you’re not running a business, you’re indulging in a hobby. And while there’s nothing wrong with pursuing your passion, no one owes you support for that.
An artist who loves red can’t insist the market accept red if that color has fallen out of favor. A comedian can’t continue to insist an audience accept something as funny if society has agreed it’s not.
Smart money would never bet against a tide. And, AI is the tide of the moment.
Like the drunk text, there’s no unsend, no unsee. AI is here stay. And it’s becoming more embedded in various aspects our lives.
Yes, AI is going to change work. It’s also going to put some people out of work, particularly those who dig into old ways and refuse to adapt.
Work that’s no longer needed is no longer needed ~Knowgoodwriter
Whether we want to accept it or not, businesses are not created to provide jobs or even to maintain jobs. That includes mine and yours.
Businesses, whether for-profit or non-profit, are supposed to be focused on serving the recipients. Jobs and the work performed on those jobs are a by-product of answering the call.
When tools come along that make certain types of labor unnecessary, it’s pointless to insist that people continue to be paid to do that work because consumers aren’t going to continue to support a business just to keep people employed.
That’s why, as tools advance, we need to reshape the products and services we offer accordingly. If you can pivot, you can stay relevant, stay employed, and keep growing.
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The good news is: there will always be a market for creatives. ~Knowgoodwriter
Across various sectors, businesses are exploring how to harness AI to do more with less, to enhance their offerings, and to upgrade.
Ignoring the tide or trying to fight against it is foolish and potentially detrimental. Best case scenario, you’ll get left behind. Worst case, you’re going to be eliminated.
If you’re a creative professional whose work is no longer in demand, but you’re desperate to cling to it–how creative are you?
True creativity means being able to pivot, to adapt, and to find new avenues for expression and providing value.
With regard to AI, for creators, there are only two long-term outcomes—be helped by it or harmed by it. Everyone gets to decide which they’ll aim for.
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