Hidden Truths

…the ultimate, hidden truth of the world is that it’s something that we make, and could just as easily make differently.

David Graeber

I’m nicking this quote by the late anthropologist David Graeber from the introduction of Kelli Anderson’s Alphabet in Motion book because it’s key to something a lot of companies in the technology world don’t want you to consider — that reality is only as fixed as we allow it to be.

While I appreciate the dilemma companies like Adobe face being caught between their existing audience and ever-changing market demands for adopting new technologies like AI. Adopt or quickly be left behind. But recent comments from Alexandru Costin, the company’s vp of generative AI products where he said [artists are] not going to be successful in this new world without using it are clearly self-serving and disingenuous.

The existence of these tools doesn’t mean anyone has to use them, nor whether they’re a solid indicator of how creative and artistic practices may evolve. Suggesting “you have no choice” is flat out nonsense.

I can name loads of artists and designers who will likely never touch this technology for any number of reasons, but also because they fundamentally understand that depriving the world of alternative methodologies is just plain dumb.

Look around — there is plenty of evidence demonstrating that we search out alternatives when our senses become oversaturated by certain mediums. Records and cassette tapes have seen a resurgence for a reason. The same with letterpress printing and sign painting.

The introduction of new tools don’t have to be a threat — for many, they’re an even greater opportunity to do something different.

Artists don’t need AI to make art, but AI sure as hell needs artists to make AI tools possible.