I think it depends on if the AI creation is the end goal, or if it’s used as a tool to create something that is then further manipulated or is part of a human-created whole.
That being said, I don’t exactly endorse the above because of the questionable ethics of AI generation.
Great post. Also: Being Dead sounds incredible. Thank you!
I really enjoyed this post. It’s mind-boggling to think of all the excellent books that have disappeared through no fault of their own. Case in point: I loved Being Dead, but would never have remembered it if you hadn’t just recommended it.
Using AI exclusively to "create" is lazy, however, it can be a creative tool of the craft. With only a background in writing brief articles in scientific journals for my profession, my passive voice writing style is strong but useless in writing a memoir of my family in my personal voice. Creative non-fiction classes, zoom and on-line, help, but without a firm basis in the craft of writing, making the art of what I want for my family is challenging. Enter various editing programs, using AI to nudge my skills forward. Only this week I found a human editor and can't wait to work with her. There never will be a substitute for human interaction.
Thanks for the post—what a great question—Where do forgotten books go when they’re forgotten? Sounds like a philosophical question. Like a memory, or a thought, that came and went.
I've been reflecting on a similar subject of disposability as well when thinking about the impact of our production on the environment. AI is the next step in using massive computing power which requires huge amounts of energy and water to run. It's hard to get across to people that the internet and digital technology is actually physical, and all the information and videos and games we create are stored in physical servers.
I've seen a few articles recently about some early computing database systems being unreadable now, or specific media like video games or or movies degrading and being lost. While working on my digital writing and dabbling in video games, I completely understand your point about the making being so important. I also am conflicted about so much of what I make being digital and therefore more ephemeral. Likely this stems from a different motivation, I would very much like to have a positive impact on the world, and it seems like physicality and space is very important to that. Sometimes I think I should just learn carpentry and build benches for bus stops, rather than attempting to reach people through words/digital experiences. That kind of direct confrontation of conditions seems much more impactful (for someone with a small audience).
I think you would really like my friend Andy Crouch's most recent book, The Life We're Looking For (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-life-we-re-looking-for-reclaiming-relationship-in-a-technological-world-andy-crouch/18339921?ean=9780593237342). There's one particular section there that your post reminded me of today. He talks about the way that we have increasingly moved away from playing music together to listening to recordings of music together. His point is that although the music is without a doubt more flawlessly executed by the recording, we lose quite a lot by outsourcing the generation of the music. There is something special about our engagement in the production, whether for the written word or for music.
I disagree that the music you make with your friends on Tuesday nights isn't art. Maybe it's not *fine* art, but it's definitely art by my vote. It's about the engagement of your imagination, creativity, and love for your craft.
I'm reminded of this every week at art class with my son. What he creates is unlikely to be admired by anyone who's not blood-related to him. But what he creates is beautiful if for no other reason that it is a product of his imagination, creativity, and whatever meager skill he is yet developing. I can only hope that my work, like his, is non-disposable.
Thank you for your recommendation- you are spot on about the McCann book for me. I read it years ago, loved it, and still remember it packing a punch. And on the main topic of your post, it's astounding how many books are forgotten- all those hours of work and thought evaporated.
Great post. Spend a few minutes on YouTube or Instagram and it is easy to see large communities of amateur musicians, woodworkers or similar. The urge to learn, make and create is strong in people, and many gain satisfaction from the trying as much as any end product or recognition - as per your band. AI is just another (albeit very powerful) thing that says ‘why bother?’ It’s not unlike those that said ‘why bother learning to use hand tools when a machine will cut more quickly and efficiently?’ Or why bother spending hours learning an instrument when a programmed guitar or piano can play better than you? But AI encroaches on things that were previously hard to do without significant skill and expertise - like writing. Not everyone one will stop bothering, but there is such a strong cultural message already - be efficient, be successful, optics over substance - that, like steroids in sport, AI will be tempting, especially to those who don’t see value in the process and effort of creating.
Just sent this article to my wife who works at the online department of an art school. Almost all discussion from work is now what the hell are artists going to do when AI takes over their lives? As a comic book guy almost all the discussion is what happens when the idiots at Marvel/DC get AI to take over our lives. Creators are scared shitless about the future. Thank you for being a small island of sanity in the world.
For those who may be interested, The Ultimate Game Guide To Your Life is, somewhat ironically, available at Google Books.
I think it depends on if the AI creation is the end goal, or if it’s used as a tool to create something that is then further manipulated or is part of a human-created whole.
That being said, I don’t exactly endorse the above because of the questionable ethics of AI generation.
Great post. Also: Being Dead sounds incredible. Thank you!
I really enjoyed this post. It’s mind-boggling to think of all the excellent books that have disappeared through no fault of their own. Case in point: I loved Being Dead, but would never have remembered it if you hadn’t just recommended it.
Using AI exclusively to "create" is lazy, however, it can be a creative tool of the craft. With only a background in writing brief articles in scientific journals for my profession, my passive voice writing style is strong but useless in writing a memoir of my family in my personal voice. Creative non-fiction classes, zoom and on-line, help, but without a firm basis in the craft of writing, making the art of what I want for my family is challenging. Enter various editing programs, using AI to nudge my skills forward. Only this week I found a human editor and can't wait to work with her. There never will be a substitute for human interaction.
Thanks for the post—what a great question—Where do forgotten books go when they’re forgotten? Sounds like a philosophical question. Like a memory, or a thought, that came and went.
As I read, I kept picturing my high school yearbooks and that classic "math equation":
2 Good
2 Be
4 Gotten
I've been reflecting on a similar subject of disposability as well when thinking about the impact of our production on the environment. AI is the next step in using massive computing power which requires huge amounts of energy and water to run. It's hard to get across to people that the internet and digital technology is actually physical, and all the information and videos and games we create are stored in physical servers.
I've seen a few articles recently about some early computing database systems being unreadable now, or specific media like video games or or movies degrading and being lost. While working on my digital writing and dabbling in video games, I completely understand your point about the making being so important. I also am conflicted about so much of what I make being digital and therefore more ephemeral. Likely this stems from a different motivation, I would very much like to have a positive impact on the world, and it seems like physicality and space is very important to that. Sometimes I think I should just learn carpentry and build benches for bus stops, rather than attempting to reach people through words/digital experiences. That kind of direct confrontation of conditions seems much more impactful (for someone with a small audience).
I think you would really like my friend Andy Crouch's most recent book, The Life We're Looking For (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-life-we-re-looking-for-reclaiming-relationship-in-a-technological-world-andy-crouch/18339921?ean=9780593237342). There's one particular section there that your post reminded me of today. He talks about the way that we have increasingly moved away from playing music together to listening to recordings of music together. His point is that although the music is without a doubt more flawlessly executed by the recording, we lose quite a lot by outsourcing the generation of the music. There is something special about our engagement in the production, whether for the written word or for music.
I disagree that the music you make with your friends on Tuesday nights isn't art. Maybe it's not *fine* art, but it's definitely art by my vote. It's about the engagement of your imagination, creativity, and love for your craft.
I'm reminded of this every week at art class with my son. What he creates is unlikely to be admired by anyone who's not blood-related to him. But what he creates is beautiful if for no other reason that it is a product of his imagination, creativity, and whatever meager skill he is yet developing. I can only hope that my work, like his, is non-disposable.
Thank you for your recommendation- you are spot on about the McCann book for me. I read it years ago, loved it, and still remember it packing a punch. And on the main topic of your post, it's astounding how many books are forgotten- all those hours of work and thought evaporated.
I wish AI would stay out of creative spaces.
Haven't read it- can't wait to check it out
Thank you!
Great post. Spend a few minutes on YouTube or Instagram and it is easy to see large communities of amateur musicians, woodworkers or similar. The urge to learn, make and create is strong in people, and many gain satisfaction from the trying as much as any end product or recognition - as per your band. AI is just another (albeit very powerful) thing that says ‘why bother?’ It’s not unlike those that said ‘why bother learning to use hand tools when a machine will cut more quickly and efficiently?’ Or why bother spending hours learning an instrument when a programmed guitar or piano can play better than you? But AI encroaches on things that were previously hard to do without significant skill and expertise - like writing. Not everyone one will stop bothering, but there is such a strong cultural message already - be efficient, be successful, optics over substance - that, like steroids in sport, AI will be tempting, especially to those who don’t see value in the process and effort of creating.
Just sent this article to my wife who works at the online department of an art school. Almost all discussion from work is now what the hell are artists going to do when AI takes over their lives? As a comic book guy almost all the discussion is what happens when the idiots at Marvel/DC get AI to take over our lives. Creators are scared shitless about the future. Thank you for being a small island of sanity in the world.