To AI, or Not to AI

Check out my AI experiment

An absurd speculative toilet paper ad.

Admittedly, I’m a little obsessed with keeping up with AI these days. If we were sitting across from each other having coffee, this is  where I'd ask, “So... how are you feeling about AI?”

Not because I love it. But not because I hate it, either.

I’m watching it like a hawk because it is the biggest disruptor to my industry since the arrival of digital cameras. 

Contrary to what you might think, I don’t use AI for speed.

If I introduce an AI-generated element into a collage or composite, it usually takes more time to get to the final image. I’m hand-painting over things, fixing strange little abnormalities, zooming in to 400% to clean up textures and inconsistencies.

I use AI for specificity.

For the impossible thing I can't find anywhere else. The strange object that exists only in my head. Whatever tool that realizes my idea the best - that's what I want to use.

At the same time, I am incredibly concerned about these new powerful tools and the destruction that comes along with using them. Wiping out entire industries, and harming our environment. If I’m using these tools, am I also contributing to the problem?

So.. "To AI, or not to AI". That is my big question.

And my next question: “How are YOU feeling about AI?”