Creativity in the Age of AI

“Am I real?”

From books to movies, this question has echoed in countless stories regarding the ethics, wonders, and dangers of machines and artificial intelligence.

These three words strike a melancholic and poignant chord for a reason. Not only do they raise the interesting question of what makes us alive, but they also tap into the inherent loneliness and longing we each have as individuals to matter and be of value.

The question remains a fundamentally human one.

I remember first feeling this particular pang of emotion when Pinocchio asked it in the old Disney movie I watched as a child.

Rewatching the clip also reminded me that the story established conscience — Pinocchio’s ability to tell right from wrong — as the definition of what it means to be real.

AI’s current presence centerstage has generated a deluge of discourse on what the technology’s impact will be in the coming years.

Although these conversations have gone down many paths, the discussion essentially continues to revolve around the central philosophical question posed above.

How do we define human contribution within a technology that is radically transforming our world in ways we have yet to understand?