Blending AI and Creativity: Trends and Transformations for Creative Professionals | Robert Half

Blending AI and Creativity: Trends and Transformations for Creative Professionals

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As Robert Half ramps up to sponsor and exhibit at Adobe MAX 2024, we had a chance to speak with Samantha Warren Director of Design, Machine Intelligence and New Technology (MINT) at Adobe to get her thoughts on the future of AI for creative professionals.  Here’s what Samantha shared with us: What is one thing people often get wrong about GenAI? One concern that is legitimate? A common misconception is that GenAI is new and it is just a replacement versus an assistive technology. GenAI has been around for a while in assistive technology like spellcheck and content-aware fill. It's been helping. The new legitimate concerns around speed and development are real, but that is why we need to take a responsible, measured approach to how that is done. What ethical considerations should be kept in mind when using GenAI in creative fields? I think of it in terms of responsibility versus ethics. The creative field is an ecosystem and everything is connected. GenAI, like any technology, will continue to evolve the creative field. It’s key for the user to consider the implications of how their work fits into the broader context.  Now that GenAI has been in the hands of creative professionals for the past year, what are the ways in which you see it being used most effectively? Ideation and creative exploration are two of the most effective and fun ways I have seen people use GenAI. Sometimes GenAI gives you what you hoped for, and sometimes it can give you something better or unexpected. Right now, this is one of its greatest strengths in the creative process.  What are the common challenges faced by creative professionals when adopting GenAI, and how can they be overcome? Creative control. There still aren’t a lot of streamlined tools for controlling output from start to finish. How can GenAI be utilized to set you apart in your career? Embrace the unknown. All major advancements in technology have pushed the arts into new directions, and there is so much to be explored and discovered with the potential of GenAI. What is one thing GenAI cannot do yet that professionals should focus on? GenAI cannot be human. Focus on all the human aspects of the work, like creativity, storytelling and personal experience. What immediate steps can professionals take to adjust to the world of GenAI? Try it! It’s easy to be resistant to something you have not tried.  What resources or courses would you recommend for creative professionals looking to learn more about GenAI? Sign up for a bunch of GenAI creative apps and just try them. The best learning is by making stuff first-hand.  How do you think GenAI will change the future of work 5 years from now? I don’t think we will be talking about GenAI five years from now; I think GenAI will just become integrated into how we work.  And how do you see GenAI transforming the landscape of creative industries in the next 5-10 years? Storytelling, curation and taste will be the key to what sets people apart in the next 5-10 years. AI will drive trends, but it won’t be able to replace the aspects of creativity that are innately human. These three areas are rich and interesting because of the humanity that they bring to the craft, and that is something that no technology can replicate.   And, join Robert Half at Adobe MAX 2024 with $400 off full price registration. Enter code M24ROBERTHALF during registration. Looking for jobs in the creative field? Contact Robert Half today.