Not gonna lie.

This article took me a minute to write because this is serious stuff (and I am not trying to be dramatic here), but if you get this wrong, you could be out of a job or business.

Not to mention, this is a highly complex topic that evolves every day.

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The question of whether AI could impact creativity and innovation is complex, and my answer might surprise you.

Quick intro

If you're new here, my name's Lester, but my friends call me Les.

I'm a founder with a successful exit and now the executive chairman of a group of ecom brands. At my core, I'm an award-winning performance marketer with a knack for spotting trends.

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The history of AI and how we got here 

The New York Times recently ran a piece titled "Electronic Brain Teaches Itself," spotlighting the Perceptron, an ambitious AI project funded by the US Navy.

This early attempt at artificial intelligence was to be the first non-living machine capable of "perceiving, recognizing, and identifying its surroundings without human training or control." Ambitious, right?

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The Perceptron was expected to walk, talk, write, and develop a sense of self.

For all that promise, the so-called "Electronic Brain" could only manage simple symbolic manipulations and logic problems. When it came to complex decision-making, it hit a wall. And what is the cost for this marvel of 1950s tech?

A cool$100,000.

Oh, did I forget to mention the year was 1958? My bad. But hey, how's that for being cheeky?

The Perceptron could neva!

Before you come for me with "That's not recent," let me ask if you have seen a Christopher Nolan movie. Time is relative. My exaggerated point aside, the takeaway is that this isn't our first rodeo. Artificial intelligence has been publicized before.

Fast forward a decade, like Cooper diving into a black hole, and we meet Shakey. Dubbed the "First Electronic Person" by Life Magazine, Shakey was an autonomous robot designed to navigate hallways like I navigate my way to the fridge at night for a glass of water.

No lights and without the help of AI, lol. ??

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One catch, though. When Shakey encountered an obstacle, it would just stop as if it were thinking, but it wasn't.

The reason I'm walking you through this blast from the past is simple: context matters. Understanding AI's history is essential to navigating its present and future, especially as we tackle fundamental questions like whether AI can kill creativity or destroy human innovation.

What changed?

Today is definitely different than 1958. This is partly due to generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney.

These tools can produce human-like text, art, and even video.

What was once considered a human skill is now in the hands of a machine. ??

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Today's AI models do more than automate. They engage. They understand user input conversationally, simulate thought processes, and adapt to preferences. AI's ability to adapt comes from machine learning constantly improving by analyzing huge amounts of data.

This has made AI smarter and easier for people and businesses to use.

The impact is undeniable in creative industries as AI tools can design logos, generate intricate artwork, and write compelling narratives, offering creators new possibilities. These advancements are transforming how people work, create, and innovate.

Generative AI is now the focus of business strategies, with companies using these technologies to enhance efficiency and engage with their audiences in new ways. ??

The million-dollar question

Now that we've explored a bit of AI's history and evolution, it's time to wrestle with the million-dollar question:

Can AI truly threaten human creativity and innovation?

The answer? It's complicated.

AI tools like DALL-E and GPT-4 are undeniably impressive and function as sophisticated pattern recognizers and generators. These tools can amplify human creativity but lack the essence of true innovation, which stems from human experience and originality.

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This raises an important question: if AI is trained exclusively on human work, can we ever genuinely call it creative or innovative?

Creativity and innovation are not just about generating content. They are rooted in original thought, emotional depth, and cultural relevance.

Someone recently asked me how I got my sense of humor.

My answer? Childhood trauma. ??

I'm joking, but the truth is that our wins and losses shape who we are and drive the art we create. It's this desire to fill a gap that often drives true innovation. AI can mirror this but can't innovate as humans do when sparked by curiosity and emotion.

For now, the answer is no.

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These qualities remain distinctly human. As long as AI needs to be "trained," it will reflect what already exists, a sophisticated echo of humanity rather than an originator.

On the flip side, just because AI doesn't have original thoughts doesn't mean it won't make some jobs redundant while creating entirely new ones.

In fact, 63% of the jobs people do today didn't even exist in the 1940s, according to an MIT paper, showing how technology has constantly reshaped the job market in unexpected ways.

My two cents

Here's my unsolicited advice after reflecting deeply on this:

Life is ultimately about change; embracing it is the only way forward. The truth is technology, at its core, is doing what it's designed to do: make our lives easier.

To resist it is to resist progress itself. ??

That said, the role of human creativity isn't being erased; it's evolving. Perhaps the designers and writers of tomorrow aren't disappearing but transforming into prompt engineers and crafting ideas in collaboration with these tools, mastering a new kind of artistry. Let's face it: Just because AI creates something doesn't mean it's good.

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The ability to discern, curate, and refine that intangible "eye" for greatness will always remain profoundly human. Unless, of course, Skynet becomes a reality. But even then, humanity's creativity, adaptability, and resilience will likely shine through.

By the way, do you want more data-driven business insights that drive growth? Sign up for my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. I share what's working, the latest trends, and the occasional pep talk to keep you inspired. If this sounds like your jam and you wanna be besties forever, click here to sign up - it's totally FREE!

Hope this helps, I'm rooting for you.

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