Working in the 21st Century: The Rise of AI and Creatives

Working in the 21st Century: The Rise of AI and Creatives

According to MarketsandMarkets, the global AI market is projected to grow from an already staggering $58.3 billion just four years ago to a staggering $309.6 billion by next year in 2026. Those are eye watering numbers. In our realm of books and publishing, AI’s reach now extends far beyond adult literature into the very precious world of children’s books, and it is transforming how stories are illustrated, produced, and published. Of course, this brings many challenges.

There are real questions in this transformation....No...revolution is a more apt word. The first is, are we taking opportunities and payment pathways away from human artists and illustrators if we embrace AI to greater or lesser extents? And a second is, how can anyone now ensure 'fair use' of AI-created images? (what even is 'fair use' in such a rapidly and dramatically changing environment?).

For very many traditional artists, AI represents a massive and deeply scary shift in the(ir) industry— and it's easy to see why. We are reminded of childhoods spent in Killarney, County Kerry where pony and traps transported us holiday makers around the town and out into the countryside. We're sure when the Model T came along back in the day, it was met with fear and resentment by these people in business - much like an attitude to AI held by some people.
But, here's the thing. As with everything in life, the very best at anything, any industry, any profession will, somehow, survive and indeed prosper. It will be a different landscape for sure, but not unsurvivable. The pony and traps remain today in Killarney and Central Park in New York because at least some humans place a value on them. Not as many as before, but they are there. We know. We've been on them.

Change will most likely mean an appreciation and journey into blended work and some creatives will like this and find it fascinating and some won't and will find it distressing. That's ok. Our view us that there will always be room and an appreciation for human creativity because, ultimately, we are all creatives although we might use different language and terminology to describe what we do. Not everything comes down to profit margins and spreadsheets. Expression is everything. The tailor who takes pleasure in a suit made, the cobbler who admires shoes made, the electrician who loves the latest circuit creation, the illustrator proud of an insert and the author who delights in a book are all creatives in their own right.

There are literally hundreds of free or inexpensive training tools and packages with AI centre stage and it's a good idea to keep conversant with current and emerging trends that are, and will, likely affect us creatives. To pretend there is only the traditional way of doing things in any industry is to remain stagnant. If Darwin taught us anything in school, it was that those who adapt survive. Let's even try to stay true to our creativity...

The ShadowScript Team ©