The Ultimate Tool, Not the Ultimate Artist

In the swirling vortex of the current AI frenzy that is slowly but surely encapsulating our society, I find myself swept up in the convoluted dialogue around the intersection of AI and art. Yet, as I parse through these thought-provoking debates, I'm inclined to reaffirm that AI, no matter how astoundingly advanced, will forever serve a primarily pragmatic purpose, as opposed to an artistic one.

A few weeks ago, I found myself leafing through the magnificent works of Leonardo da Vinci, a treasure I chanced upon at an used book sale. Da Vinci's work, characterized by his profound understanding of human anatomy and his keen observation of beauty, left me in awe. I found it hard to reconcile the fact that any AI, even an advanced one like DALL-E 2, could recreate, let alone truly create such artistic profundity. For Leonardo's art was not about creating a photorealistic portrayal of reality. It was about capturing his interpretation of beauty, his personal perception of the human form, the sublime drama of biblical narratives. An AI, for all its computational power and extensive access to every creation of man, cannot replicate the poetic license that human artists use to fill in their knowledge gaps.

The beauty of human-created art resides in its flaws and imperfections, in the echoes of lived experience that bleed into the brushstrokes or the prose. It is these subtleties, the artist's interpretation of the world around them, and their unique emotional and sensory experiences, that breathe life into art. An AI, no matter how sophisticated, will never encompass the depth and substance of this uniquely human perspective. For this reason, AI's true potential lies in its pragmatic application.

The oft-repeated phrase, "AI won't replace you. A person using AI will," reflects this sentiment. In the short term, it appears to hold true. Yet, I cannot help but be perturbed by the looming specter of overreliance on AI. The radical shifts AI is bringing about in our work and life practices will indubitably force us to reconsider the division of labor between man and machine. This reflection stirs up a bevy of questions.

Just as the agricultural revolution nudged a large segment of humanity away from hunting skills, or the advent of television curtailed our reading habits, or the digital revolution erased the need for cursive handwriting from an entire generation, what will the AI revolution mean for our intellectual abilities? The aforementioned transitions, while presenting a net positive for society, have nonetheless wrought changes at the individual level that are hard to categorize as unequivocally positive.

The burning question I grapple with is this: will the pervasive use of AI lead to an erosion of our intellectual capabilities? Yes, our society has greatly evolved, and the modern youth are arguably more competent in many ways than their counterparts 2,000 years ago. But are they more resilient, more industrious, more responsible?

As we venture deeper into this new era, we must take stock of what aspects of our human agency we deem worth protecting. Our intellectual and artistic capacities, our creativity, our unique perspective born out of lived experiences—these are attributes that AI, however sophisticated, cannot replicate.

The crux of the issue lies in understanding the essence of human intelligence and creativity. Our cognitive capabilities are not just about problem-solving or pattern recognition—abilities that AI can mimic with startling efficiency. They are also about experiencing and interpreting the world in profoundly personal ways, and then manifesting these experiences in myriad forms of creative expression. An AI, no matter how intricate or advanced, lacks this lived experience. Its understanding of the world is derivative, gleaned from vast pools of data, but devoid of any genuine experience or emotional comprehension. Its creations aim for perfection—devoid of nuance.

Art, in its most profound sense, is a translation of an artist's experiences, feelings, thoughts, and aspirations. Leonardo’s studies of anatomy did not just contribute to the accuracy of his paintings, they were also a testament to his curiosity, his thirst for understanding, his desire to depict the human form in all its complexity. His biblical scenes, with their dramatic postures and narrative power, were not just visual renditions, but his interpretations of stories that have shaped human thought for centuries. The intricate details, the soft edges, the clear skin—all these elements were Leonardo's artistic choices, reflecting his individual interpretation of beauty.

What AI can do, and what it has been doing quite effectively, is to mimic these artistic elements. It can recreate Leonardo’s style, it can generate images that resemble his work, it can even produce new 'paintings' in his style. But all these creations, impressive as they are, lack the essence of art. They are copies, not creations. They may bear semblance to Leonardo’s art, but they do not bear his spirit.

So, while AI can certainly serve as a powerful tool for artists, augmenting their capabilities and offering new ways to express their creativity, it is not in itself an artist. The crucial element of creativity, of 'bringing something into being' from the depths of human consciousness, remains a distinctly human trait.

But as we integrate AI into our lives, as we become increasingly reliant on it, we need to tread carefully. The lessons of history, from the agricultural revolution to the digital age, offer valuable insights. Each of these transitions has resulted in profound shifts in our abilities, our behaviors, our ways of thinking. Some skills have faded, others have emerged. In the wake of these changes, society has undoubtedly progressed. But the cost has often been borne by the individual, with personal skills and abilities eroding in the face of technological advancement.

The advent of AI poses a similar risk. As we embrace its potential, we must also guard against its pitfalls. The erosion of intellectual abilities, the shrinking of our skills set, the loss of our uniquely human capacity to create—these are risks we must actively work to mitigate. The onus is on us to strike a balance between harnessing AI's pragmatic power and preserving our individual capabilities and creativity.

Let's remember: AI is a tool, a powerful, transformative tool, but a tool nonetheless. And like all tools, its worth lies in how we use it. As we navigate through the AI era, we must think through how to use this tool wisely, to augment our capabilities, not diminish them; to enrich our lives, not impoverish them; and above all, to serve our purpose, not supersede it.

PPA