The 21st Century Creative Revolution

Written By: Khadeja Abdel Sattar

Photo owned by Adobe Stock

The day in the life of an average teenager consists of one common factor: social media. Scrolling through TikTok, you might see ChatGPT “brain rot” animations, glass fruit being sliced like butter, or “real or AI” guessing games. Our entertainment, work life, and even home life are being consumed by artificial intelligence. However, is AI an inhibitor or the start of a creative revolution? As a society, we are spending less time doing technical work and shifting our focus towards creative outlets since the evolution of AI. Artificial intelligence is reducing our independent thinking skills, but also fostering a new wave of creativity and a 21st century creative revolution.

AI drives our generation to engage with entertainment through  experimental creativity. With the help of artificial intelligence, what were once repetitive movies has since become video after video of brain teasing illusions. Paperwork has taken a back seat to creativity in today’s world. No longer do we need to complete as much work and with this free time comes boredom. This boredom that drives the human mind into creative adventures and a revolution of thought. AI is our tool, but also our motivator. Centuries ago, entertainment was as simple as dances, music, performances, or games. In the 20th century, movies displaying a “perfect life” are what interested most people. Now, entertainment has reached new limits because of AI and social media. New ideas, random animations, and bizarre genres of music, movies, and stories are at our fingertips. We are using our infinite resources to come up with creative possibilities and stimulating parts of our brain that have been inactive for too long. With the ability to create anything and a bored generation, anything is possible. 

New technologies were designed for efficiency and society is taking it to a new level. Repetitive forms and paperwork that once fostered our skills through practice and are now a computer’s job. As we complete less work ourselves, our fundamental skills are becoming less significant. A Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon study shows as the reliance on AI deepens, cognitive effort and the ability to follow through decreases. More responsibilities and tasks are being delegated to technology, and our critical and independent thinking skills are deteriorating. With less work and more leisure, much more brain power is being focused on creativity in entertainment.

AI is negatively affecting our work ethic and ability to make independent decisions, but also driving society towards a more innovative future. Humans’ ability to carry out work ourselves is exponentially declining. Practices that have shaped society are increasingly being taken over by artificial intelligence. At the same time, humans are using AI in more inventive ways. The new generation is more creative than ever and using technology to explore new possibilities.  Computers can bring us to places we never imagined, but are we willing to sacrifice our diligence in the process? As AI continues to evolve, it is not just reshaping the way we work, but also our ability to create and experiment.