Dear Cud Editor,

David M. Fitzpatrick’s thought-provoking article on AI’s growing involvement in creative fields raises some important concerns about the future of human ingenuity. While artificial intelligence has proven its ability to imitate certain aspects of artistic creation, from generating poetry to creating visual art, it’s crucial to ask ourselves what may be lost if we allow machines to dominate these deeply human realms. Art, in its essence, is not just about technical skill but the raw emotional and intellectual connections that only humans can truly bring to the table. AI may be able to produce technically impressive work, but it lacks the lived experience that gives human creativity its power and depth.

As Fitzpatrick points out, AI is rapidly improving, and its potential influence on creative industries is undeniable. However, we must recognize that there is something irreplaceable about the human capacity for originality. Machines can analyze patterns and produce outputs based on data, but they cannot replicate the unique blend of personal experience, emotions, and intuition that informs human creativity. This is where the real concern lies—not in AI’s ability to churn out art, but in the possibility that we may begin to value efficiency and marketability over the messy, unpredictable beauty of human expression.

Moreover, there’s the issue of how AI’s increasing involvement in creative work could shift our cultural landscape. If publishers and galleries start to prioritize AI-generated content because it’s faster and cheaper, where does that leave human creators? We risk reducing art to a product, something that can be mass-produced and consumed without fully appreciating the deeper meanings and connections that come from genuine human interaction with the world. Creativity is about more than output; it’s about the process, the journey, and the personal transformations that come with it—things that AI, no matter how advanced, can never truly understand.

As we move forward into a world increasingly shaped by AI, it’s important to remember the value of human creativity and its irreplaceable role in shaping our culture and society. Fitzpatrick’s article is a timely reminder that while AI has its place, it should never be at the expense of what makes us human. We must ensure that technology enhances, rather than replaces, the creative spirit that defines us. After all, art is not just about what is created, but about who we are as creators.

Keep up the good work.

James Harrison, Blue Hill, ME.

Lead photo by Bango Renders on StockSnap