Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic in recent months. Though the debate about AI has been going on long enough, one question remains. Does Artificial Intelligence help or hurt creativity? Jared Cardon, a local director, writer, producer and game designer had a lot to say about the subject.

Cardon owns a visual effects company here in Utah called ‘Western Lights’. They do visual effects for movies and commercials. When asked where he thinks Artificial Intelligence is going in the future he answered “I think AI is going everywhere, and there’s no stopping it. But I don’t know what it’s going to do yet. It’s just so new, we’ve never had anything like this. This feels like historical moments where we invented the printing press, and we invented the atomic bomb, I think AI will be one of those moments.”

Although it seems like Artificial Intelligence can recreate almost anything, there are some aspects of AI that can not be reproduced. “I don’t believe AI could reproduce the heart or the spirit of something that an artist makes, or a writer, or a songwriter. AI can only copy the things made by humans,” Cardon says.

Artificial intelligence can come off as a dangerous, unstable thing, but it can also have its perks. Cardon says “AI is like having a really fast concept artist at your fingertips. If you wanted to come up with art, it can give you something really quickly. Although you can’t control the outcome very well, you will still get a result.”

When asked what he would say to young students who are thinking about a career in the arts or film industry, Cardon states “Your creativity will matter, no matter what tools you will use. Your ability to bring a new voice and perspective is what makes it special. Learn to use AI as part of your art, because it will be needed, but any art making comes from the unique way you see and feel the world and your ability to communicate that. Don’t solely rely on AI to do art for you.”

AI can be a good and bad thing. “I think it could do either, it can go both ways. It all depends on how you use it.” Cardon says at the end of the interview.

So what do you think? Does Artificial Intelligence help or hurt human creativity?