4 Tips to Thrive as a Creative in the Age of AI

AI is getting better at creating content that resembles human creativity, from music to art to writing. Does that make you fear for your future as a creative? Don’t panic. You can still harness your unique human potential and stand out from the crowd. In this post, we’ll give you tips on how to use AI as a tool rather than a threat and thrive as a creative in the digital age.

Tip #1. Get ready to learn new things 

AI is not your enemy. It is a tool that can assist you in improving your creativity and productivity. Instead of avoiding or fearing AI, embrace it and learn how to use it effectively. This does not preclude you from questioning or criticizing the use of technology, which can have flaws and challenges. But don’t be the one who lags behind and complains. Be the one who leads and explores. If you’re worried about creatives getting their work stolen for data training – maybe you can lead an internal group in your workplace that researches tools and how they deal with this particular problem. Or maybe research how you can use the company artwork as a part of your own dataset, and build on top of your existing brand. Join the conversation and learn as much as you can about the tools at your disposal. That way you’ll make smart choices.

There are many tools and platforms that allow you to access and collaborate with AI-powered technologies. For example, you can use chatGPT to generate text content, Runway ML to create videos, or Adobe Firefly to design graphics. These tools can help you save time, generate ideas, and experiment with different styles and formats. But remember: You still need to use your own judgment, taste, and originality to create content that is meaningful and engaging. Don’t rely on AI to do everything for you. Use it as a source of inspiration, feedback, and prototyping, not as a final product. 

In March 2023, followers of Magic Fabric’s Instagram were asked about their views on AI and the future.

Tip #2: Master the skills that AI cannot yet match

AI may be a good imitator of human creativity, but it cannot replace it entirely. But you can’t rely on your craft alone anymore. In the age of AI you need to excel at driving the strategic and conceptual direction of your work. Humans are better than machines at being human, and you’ll better understand what humans like to see and feel because you have empathy – the ability to understand and connect with your audience’s emotions, needs, and desires. Human beings also have the ability to set goals, prioritize tasks and manage resources. So if you’re a junior creative today, take on the role of a director and look at AI as your resource and try to think of the most efficient way to get it to produce great work, or even have it suggest new directions in your work that you had not thought of before.

Tip #3: Collaborate with other creatives and build strong networks

AI may be able to generate content independently, but it cannot collaborate with other creatives or socialize. Collaboration and social skills are vital for human creativity. It helps you learn from others and gain new perspectives to generate new ideas and solutions. It helps you build a network and reputation – something that’s easy to underestimate the value of.

To collaborate with other creatives and use social skills effectively, you need to communicate clearly, listen actively, give and receive feedback constructively, respect diversity, and resolve conflicts peacefully. You also need to network online and offline with other creatives who share your vision or complement your skills. And as a bonus – you’ll also feel happier and be more healthy in your professional life. Humans are meant to work in packs, machines are not.

Results from Magic Fabric’s Instagram polls.

Tip #4: Keep learning and adapting

But remember: these are not facts, but guesses. They are based on what we know today about AI and its limits. AI is changing fast and breaking new ground every day. It surprises us and proves us wrong often. So we cannot say for sure what AI can or cannot do in the future, as things are always shifting and improving. For instance, some things that we think only humans can do now may be done better by AI later, thanks to new methods and technologies. On the other hand, some things that we think are simple for AI now may turn out to be hard and tricky later, because of moral, social, or technical problems. So be ready for a bumpy road. But also acknowledge that it’s an incredibly exciting historical shift we are facing and that creative capabilities have by many experts been considered as one of the hardest human skill sets to fully replace with machines. And even if they did – would you still not be creating?