When AI is used as a replacement for creativity, our work is cheapened.

When I first heard the public rumblings of AI replacing my work and those in creative and digital fields, I was worried. Not that we were being replaced in full, but that our quality of work would be used to churn out things that is heartless. AI was created to take away the need to think about the "lesser" tasks, seen as inconsequential. What it actually does is require you to think less: for yourself, for your clients and those closest to you. What most founders, owners and CEOs don't realize is that relying solely on AI to create graphics and campaigns, to take and edit photos of real people, to build out brand infrastructure with prompts instead of intention, the soul of why clients and customers came to you is now tainted. They'll see how the work needed for success has become a suggestion, and will think that their offerings will be treated the same way. Why try when AI can just do it? Care and respect are disregarded for the sake of innovation built on shaky ground and morals. Potential customers are now seen as tasks to complete vs. humans to help. 

Many creatives use AI for a myriad of tasks, but most don't use it for the meat of the work; the creating of something from scratch with input from real people.

When AI is used as a replacement for skilled artists and labor, that same art is cheapened. It becomes fodder in the background to bypass because it's assumed artificial. We saw in 2020 how the arts and humanities brought smiles to our faces, how videos from and with real people entertained a scared populous. A glimmer of realization spread as we realized that everything we interact with, especially the things we love, was once an idea in a creative's head. Attempting to bypass the human element for the sake of time and money feeds society back into a cycle of not seeing the forest for the trees. It's not normal or inevitable; it's a bottom line of soulless content no one asked for.

We all know that person who now uses AI for everything: digital birthday wishes, quick and in-depth writings, new headshots, flyers, AI slop videos. They either create them or share them almost exclusively. Gallons of fresh water wasted, Black, brown and disenfranchised neighorhoods affected by noise and air pollution, energy bills going up for temporary lols down the timeline.

The beautiful thing is the pushback against AI has people trying again, some for the first time. The desire to learn an instrument, take up painting, craft new content has us pursuing the same dreams AI wants us to believe only it can create now. We want the world to know we are real, so that means making mistakes and correcting them with heart and intention. We flub lines, mess up footage, do multiple takes because our humanity and all its imperfections are worthy of display. We get it now. We are taking back our own humaness and seeking out real connection, working with our hands and with other creatives to build something spectacular. Something that just lived in a dusty notebook somewhere now has a home on a website, a portfolio, a channel, a podcast.

The Joi Element is a human-first creative agency. We want to see and work with YOU. Call it old-school, call it too much, call it holding on the past. Hand-made with positive, genuine intention is always better.