The Age of AI is the Age of the Artist: An Open Letter to my Fellow Artists
Dear Artist,
My name is Brandon Powers and I’m an artist. I’m a director and choreographer with a background in theatre and dance. Nowadays, I make experiences at the interaction of immersive technology and performance. I love exploring new tools and creating work that could not be made without the powerful technology we have access to. I aim to reveal new truths about our world and our relationships to each other as well as the technology becoming more embedded in our bodies.
I also spend a large portion of my time introducing artists to technologies for the first time, whether it be through my leadership of MTFxR, a musical theatre + extended reality development program at Musical Theatre Factory, or through my own studio constellation, where I lead workshops and consult. I often describe myself as a translator, sitting between an artists and technologists, so they can learn how to communicate with each other.
Among many other technologies, I have worked with AI for several years and believe it is an immensely powerful tool to supercharge creativity (here’s a talk I gave in 2018 preaching just that). I recognize that many Artists are scared of AI, and fear it taking jobs, or devaluing art. But I am here today, asking you to consider an alternative:
I propose that AI will make Artists more valuable than ever before. In fact, I believe it will help the world see how essential we are to the fabric of a healthy democracy and society. You may see lots of AI generated writing, images, video, songs online and completely turned off by them. I get it. There is definitely a lot of slop, especially if you are not interested in viewing this work from the angle of technological innovation.
You may even feel under attack by the hordes of online posters sharing their work. You see things you may consider holding low aesthetic value or soul made with the click of a button. You are not wrong to feel this way. It is a natural response to the fundamental shift we are all experiencing at an extremely rapid pace. I also understand the instant rebuke because of who it seems to be leading much of the AI community: tech bros often cast as the Anti-Artists (now I don’t think that’s actually the case, but that’s for another letter). Many artists distrust AI because it feels like yet another Silicon Valley gold rush, similar to NFTs and the CryptoBro era. The skepticism is understandable. It feels as though there is residual fatigue due to some of the same leaders and loud voices and a renewed distaste for American Tech Leaders. Distrust + existential fear = a very bad combination! But unlike speculative digital assets, AI is a tool, not a product, and how we wield it is still up to us.
And while many of these people may create, they are mostly not Artists.
To be an Artist is more than just a profession, it’s a way of life.
A way of thinking about the world.
A training that is immensely valuable to the world.
You inspire people to see their days through a new lens.
You bring joy.
You bring dialogue.
You bring critical thought.
You bring sensemaking.
These offerings are exactly what we’ll need more than ever in an AI propelled future (especially as our country teeters towards authoritarianism). There will be less value placed on the ability to “output” and more of a value on curation. Hand made goods will be extra special. Someone will have to piece through the content saturated feeds and environments that are created. Who will do that? The Artists.
We, who are so undervalued by society, at least in this country, will finally be taken seriously as more than just “creators of output.” Our siphoned algorithms, already dividing our world will give way to even more personalized AI experiences, placing a bubble around each person. Who will bring us together? Teach us to communicate and have empathy for each other? The Artists.
While AI may help generate content, Artists generate meaning.
I will leave you with this: If you still feel uneasy about AI or wish we weren’t headed in this direction, I get it. But I encourage you to try these tools yourself. See what it’s like to use them. You don’t have to embrace them, but understanding them will only make your critique stronger. We need those voices too. You may also find yourself inspired by how these tools can support your practice.
I truly believe we are about to enter an age that will fundamentally transform how we relate to each other and humanity. This letter isn’t intended to force anyone to do anything, I’m simply looking to inspire hope in a community that may feel especially hopeful. Our time is here. The world needs us, and we should answer the call.
If you want to learn more about these tools and don’t know where to start, feel free to DM me and I will help point you in the right direction.
Keep living your Artist life and prepare for an age that will be full of big questions of which we can hopefully provide big answers.
Best,
Brandon
