AI Hopes: 3 Insights from Pro Creatives

Over the last year and a half, AI has not only enhanced but also sparked inspiration among many creative professionals. Yet, there's a flip side—many are worried about how this tech might impact their careers and creative processes. Our teams at Responsible AI User Experience (RAIUX) and Technology & Society have been keeping tabs on these worries, aiming to make AI tech even more useful and customized for creatives.

To dive deeper into this, we chatted with 17 creative folks from various fields—graphic designers, multimedia artists, animators, film directors, industrial designers, and musicians. We wanted to get the scoop on their initial experiences with generative AI. Here's what we found out:

1. Generative AI opens up new avenues for self-expression. A lot of creatives feel that these AI tools can quickly boost their skills, helping them express themselves better and supporting their creative journey.

2. Creatives want AI to assist, not take over. While many were initially amazed by what AI can do, they made it clear—they don't want AI to do the creating for them. The joy of the creative process is what drives them, and AI should help without stealing the spotlight from their creativity.

3. AI can take the grunt work off their plates. Where AI really shines is in handling the non-creative tasks that can bog down creatives. Nowadays, to succeed, creatives need to juggle marketing, social media, networking, and a bunch of other stuff that takes them away from their art. The pros we talked to were keen on using AI to streamline these tasks, freeing them up to focus more on what they love—creating.

Understanding these nuances and contexts is key for us in crafting products. It helps us focus our design efforts and find ways to support creatives in a way that matches their needs. We're thankful to all the creative professionals who took the time to share their thoughts with us. If you want to hear straight from them, check out this short video.