Art Outruns AI

Expert
Written By David Shing

Last week, I was invited to speak at a conference by the cats at Air provocatively titled: “Is Creativity Dead?”

Bold question.
Bad assumption.
Important tension.

Because we’re in a moment where automation eats tasks.
Where platforms optimize for sameness.
Where job titles read like memes.
And where creativity—the real kind—is in danger of being confused with content production.

It’s not dead.
But it is being dressed up in a costume that doesn’t quite fit.
So let’s peel back the layers and look at what creativity really is, what it’s becoming, and what we need to protect.

Creativity ≠ Content

Let’s stop confusing output with originality.

Somewhere along the way, the word creative got stretched to fit everyone and everything.
And look, I love democratization.
I love that tools like Canva or Midjourney give more people access to visual language.

But access ≠ mastery.
Ease ≠ originality.
Aesthetics ≠ taste.

Just because I like to cook doesn’t make me a chef.
Just because you can prompt doesn’t mean you’ve developed a point of view.

Real creativity isn’t just combining references.
It’s about connecting things that have no business belonging together—until suddenly, they do.
It’s the irrational harmony. The unexpected texture. The “WTF” that turns into “OF COURSE.”

Will AI ever get there?
Maybe someday.
But not now.

Because creativity isn’t just logic.
It’s emotion. Intuition. Contradiction.
It’s the stuff we live through—not the stuff we can code.

Friction Is a Feature

We live in a world obsessed with smoothness.

Everything is “frictionless.”
Everything is “seamless.”
Everything is “effortless.”

And AI promises to make it even easier—no blockers, no bottlenecks, no blank page.

But here’s the thing:

Friction is where your taste is born.
Difficulty is where your voice is shaped.

We’ve all had to fight for an idea.
Push through creative resistance.
Survive brutal edits, bad briefs, beautiful failures.

That’s not something to automate.
That’s something to protect.

Yes, let AI take the drudgery.
But don’t erase the tension that teaches you to see.

Creativity Is Now Architecture

Here’s what’s happening behind the curtain:

Generative tools are commoditizing outputs.
Design, code, copy, visuals—it’s all faster now.

So if execution is no longer the edge… what is?

It’s the architecture behind the idea.
It’s the taste system.
The brand’s creative spine.
The rules you break on purpose.

I often say: design the scaffolding, not just the sculpture.
Because in a world of infinite content, it’s not the asset—it’s the point of view that matters.
It’s not the file—it’s the feeling.

This is how you stay human in the age of the prompt.

Expertise Theater vs. Embodied Experience

We’ve entered the era of creative performance.

People aren’t just designing—they’re being seen designing.
You don’t become a thought leader by thinking—you become one by tweeting like one.
It’s all presentation, less provocation.

We used to build credibility through doing.
Now we build it through distribution.

But here’s the real kicker:

When attention becomes the currency, craft becomes the casualty.
And originality becomes a branding exercise.

That’s why real creativity today is not just about making—it’s about remembering who you are while you make.
It’s about staying weird.
Staying honest.
Staying real.

Because while everyone’s chasing the algorithm…
The most powerful thing you can be is yourself at full volume.

Don’t Fear the Storm—Prepare for It

AI isn’t some faraway threat.
It’s here. It’s evolving. And yes, it’s shaking things up.

You’ve got two choices:
You can panic… or you can plant different crops.

I choose the latter.
And if you’re a builder, a creative, a brand… you should too.

Here’s what I’d protect at all costs:

  • Protect your rituals

  • Protect your taste

  • Protect your friction

  • Protect your point of view

  • Protect your creative architecture

Don’t blindly resist it.
Don’t blindly follow it.
Navigate with memory.

TL;DR for the Brave

Creativity isn’t dead.
But the way we define it needs a reboot.

So let me offer this instead:

  • Creativity is not your job title.

  • It’s not your software stack.

  • It’s not how loud you are on social.

    Creativity is how deeply you’ve lived—and how bravely you connect the dots only you can see.

    That is your advantage.
    That is your value.
    And that is something no AI can automate.

    Yet! See you out there…

September 29, 2025

© 2025 The Continuum

David Shing

David "Shingy" Shing, a Creative Omnivore and visionary futurist, pioneers the frontier of human-technological engagement with his philosophy: "From Imagination to Implementation of Ideas, Iconography, Instinct." This globally acclaimed thought leader has transformed icons like LVMH, Chanel, and Nike with his strategic forecasts, captivating audiences from TED to Cannes Lions with insights on humanizing technology. Championing mindful technological engagement, Shingy's visionary leadership shapes a more enlightened digital future, turning bold ideas into tangible realities that redefine our world.

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