The Second Renaissance
AI's Role in Shaping a New Era of Creativity
The world is changing, accelerating into a new era. A Second Renaissance fueled by technological innovation, creativity, and a desire for greater awareness and wisdom.
This transition is in part characterized by the increasing prominence of artistic outputs over the individual creators themselves.
Central to this movement is the advent of artificial intelligence, which is redefining the boundaries of authorship and creativity.
This article explores the concept of post-authorship, the role of AI in this paradigm shift, and some of the key developments emerging from this transformation.
Post-Authorship and the New Paradigm
For most of recent history, the value of artistic works has been closely tied to the identity and reputation of their creators. The author's name often enhances the perceived worth of a piece, whether it's a novel, painting, or musical composition.
An author or artist’s name once meant something, however this practice has largely been perverted, as inflated egos have infiltrated and commercialized the arts.
This new post-authorship era challenges the idea that the value of a work of art is tied to it’s “creator”. In a post-authorship world, the focus shifts from the individual genius to the collective, inspirational, and esoteric nature of creativity.
This was once the norm in the art world, however as art became increasingly commercialized during the 20th century, we collectively moved away from this model.
The origins of a piece of art become less significant compared to its impact and resonance with audiences, in a post-authorship paradigm. This change is driven by several factors, including the democratization of creative tools, the proliferation of digital platforms, and most notably, the rise of AI.
AI's Role in the Shift
AI has become a powerful catalyst for widespread societal transformation. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this technology will help usher in a golden age - even if it’s not the kind that most people envision.
Here are some key ways in which AI is contributing to this shift:
Democratization of Creativity
AI tools and platforms have made creative processes more accessible to a broader audience.
Applications like AI-driven design software, music composition tools, and writing assistants enable individuals with little to no formal training to produce high-quality artistic works. This democratization reduces the emphasis on individual authorship, as creativity becomes a more collective endeavor.
Much to the dismay of many of today’s so-called “artists,” this shift will fundamentally change how we think of subjects like copyright and artistic credit. This change is sorely needed, as much of the art world has been dominated by massive egos and a noticeable lack of creative acumen.
These people forget that at the end of the day, we are just vessels, channeling messages from other spheres. Once you lose sight of this single truth, all context is lost
Collaborative Creation
AI facilitates collaboration between humans and machines, blurring the lines of authorship. AI can generate ideas, suggest improvements, and even create entire works independently or in partnership with human creators.
This is important because if the “original idea” for a work is made manifest through AI output, can the final output be entirely attributed to a human anyway? As AI evolves, the lines will become increasingly blurred, until the typical creative process seamlessly blends both artificial and organic intelligence together in a new and much more powerful creative workflow.
Needless to say, putting the stamp of copyright on any of this work would be comical, like trying to claim ownership of a particular way in which the tides ebb and flow.
Proliferation of AI-Generated Content
AI's ability to generate vast amounts of content at unprecedented speeds further diminishes the focus on individual authors. From news articles to paintings and music, AI-generated content is becoming increasingly prevalent.
As audiences become more accustomed to consuming AI-created works, the importance of human authorship wanes. Authorship technically only became a thing in the first place in order to connect works with who should be properly compensated for them within a primitive capitalist framework. Once beautiful and complex works of art are mass produced every second, and the entire idea of creative attribution goes out the window, this system will no longer be needed.
As many have pointed out, we are shifting toward a better, truer representation of value, where individuals will be compensated for their collective contribution to the Network. AI will naturally expose many as unable to contribute to the Network in any meaningful way, thus creating a disparity between real creatives and the masses.
Enhanced Creativity and Innovation
AI's capacity to analyze and synthesize vast datasets allows it to identify patterns and generate novel ideas that might elude human creators.
This capability enhances the overall quality and diversity of creative outputs, shifting the emphasis from the creator to the innovation and creativity embodied in the work itself.
Positive Developments in a Post-Authorship World
The move towards post-authorship is accompanied by several positive developments that benefit both creators and their audiences:
Artistic Memetics
In a post-authorship world, the merit of a work is judged primarily by its message and memetic impact rather than the fame or reputation of its creator.
This shift encourages creators to prioritize excellence and innovation, leading to a richer and more varied artistic output.
We’re already seeing a massive influx of creativity running parallel to the growth of AI art, music, and writing platforms. Whether it’s memes, different kinds of digital painting styles, abstract work, or anime, AI is being used to pioneer entirely new kinds of art, things that were never before cooked up by human minds or hands.
Much of this AI work remains rightfully detached from the people generating it. Think of how massive this already is, in terms of the collective mental shift. Beautiful works of art full of vibrancy and emotion, now floating around on the Internet, largely without authors. 10 years ago these works would have been career defining for some artists, and their inflated egos would have rode that wave of attention all the way to the bank.
New Forms of Expression: The Two-Way Creative Process
AI opens up new avenues for artistic expression that were previously unimaginable or out of reach for most of us.
Immersive virtual environments, AI companions, and AI-driven generative experiences will rapidly grow in popularity and demand. One of the most interesting and paradigm-shattering aspects of AI is how it will redefine art itself, largely by merging the creative process with the end product.
For instance, already with platforms like ChatGPT, you can communicate back and forth in order to create and then refine an image. What happens when the output and the intelligence are even more fluid? We may soon experience a world where art itself can “speak” to us, relaying back to us insight into its own symbolism and meaning.
This is the incredible potential of digital space. The Second Renaissance will transform the creative process into one of rich self-discovery while allowing those with the creative capacity and will to power a means to disseminate novel ideas and systems into the world like never before.
Reflect for a moment what it would be like to have a two-way conversation with a painting, or how incredible it would be to help a character in a book come to life through AI.1
In the near future, novels will be co-written by the very characters detailed within the story. Worlds will come alive as the lines between creator and created become blurred.
This is just one example. As AI evolves, the creative use cases will rapidly increase. From product development to characters in movies to the way we shop for groceries, everything is about to change and take on a more immersive dimension.
Sustainable Creativity
Another, less talked about perk of this shift is how AI can assist creators by automating repetitive tasks and generating ideas, freeing up time and energy for more strategic and creative endeavors. This support fosters a sustainable creative ecosystem where artists can focus on their passion and vision without being bogged down by mundane tasks.
For the past few decades, the art world has largely been dominated by a lack of creativity. This is evident in how bland, soulless, and corporate so much work has been, especially in “fine art” circles.
Most creative artistic expression since the 90’s has shown itself in alternative mediums, such as video games. Fine art and cinema lost much of its creative spark years ago.
Outside of egos chasing a quick buck, the reason for this is a lack of time to be creative. Creativity relies on energy, or more specifically, fostering a clear connection with higher planes and learning how to channel what you see and feel into something usable in the physical.
Lacking this process, art comes out feeling forced and stale. Hence why so much recent art has been about sating individual egos rather than benefiting the collective.
Your Art is Not Yours
Much of the discontent over AI stems from the idea that AI “steals” art2 and that anything generated by AI must be violating some kind of copyright. It’s unfair, it takes the “human element” (lol) out of art, it takes away jobs, etc. etc.
All of these complaints stem from the ego, it’s all fear based energy. Whenever I see someone deride AI, I can invariably sense the immense fear behind their words. They fear a world where their mediocrity no longer rewards them, a world where artistry isn’t gatekept behind one’s physical ability to wield a pencil.3
The AI art debate is a curious one, perhaps one of the easiest ways in history to tell if a person operates from heart or ego. Are they self-aware enough not to tie their self-worth to their ability to “draw,” or are they mired in a swamp of laws and beliefs conjured by energy vampires and corporate dullards?
Many artists today forget the first rule of creating: it’s not about you.
It’s never about you, it’s never personal, you are just a vessel.4
Artists are mediums, taking abstract ideas and thought-forms and translating them into a form for everyone else to enjoy. Where these ideas come from is irrelevant - it’s the art that matters.
Regardless of how difficult it was to produce this art, it’s never about the artist. Yes, there exist among us those with incredible talent. The great artists of the past, working with chisel and brush, were able to do amazing things. Recognize the skill without losing sight of the fact that the art is what is valuable. If the artist produces the art with recognition as the central focus, the message will be distorted, hollow.
Truthfully, artists don’t so much create as they do transmute. Artists are alchemists, energy wizards, taking thought-forms out of the ether and inscribing them onto the physical world for the benefit of all.
Real art is rebellious insomuch as it embraces the esoteric and symbolic. It’s not a corporate exercise, nor does it hinge on physical parameters. To believe that the value of a work of art derives from one’s ability to make physical brush strokes is to debase the entire practice into something altogether mundane, when real art is anything but.
The spirit of art is fluid, free, transformative, and beyond the confines of rote physicality. There is a reason why most spiritual traditions, be them occult or overt, incorporate so much artistic language and concepts into their systems.
AI removes the egoic component from the modern artistic process, thus returning it to its natural purpose: a means of expression, communication, and entertainment.
Not to say that there aren’t any selfless or creative artists out there today, nor am I saying that all AI art will be created without egoic interference. However, the reality is that the creative process has been bogged down for a while now, and AI will level the playing field. The sheer degree of accessibility means that those with the best ideas will leverage AI, and they will do so with the full understanding that their identity and sense of Self is not tied to the output of the AI, even if they happen to garner attention and money from it.
A paradigm shift to be sure, compared to what we have now: a plethora of “artists” who draw for the sole reason of turning a buck or vamping attention from their peers.
Embrace the Shift
The emergence of AI as a creative force is driving us towards a post-authorship world where the value of artistic output takes precedence over the identity of its creator.
For those who feel a twinge of fear at these prospects, this is a sign you are too emotionally attached to things that don’t matter. Instead of creating to create, you’ve been duped into creating for personal gain.
Understand that we are truly entering the Second Renaissance, an era of unfettered creativity coupled with unprecedented opportunities. Anyone stuck sitting on the sidelines pouting about AI is going to get lapped.
This is a sign to take a step back and reevaluate why you like creating to begin with. Is it to impress people and make money, or is it to commune with other worlds and inspire your peers? Now is your chance to create with an open mind and heart, put your work out there, forget trying to impress others or gain recognition. All of that will come if your intentions are aligned and if people resonate with the messages you are conveying. Don’t overthink it.
At the same time, recognize that we are about to witness something beautiful, a societal transformation the likes of which will overshadow the Industrial Revolution by several orders of magnitude. A world not trapped by arbitrary creative limitations is a world where anything is possible.
The best thing anyone can do right now is approach AI with an open mind and leave ego at the door. Attachment to old systems will only bog you down, both physically and spiritually. It’s time embrace a new paradigm, and ask what kind of opportunities will this new world bring you?
Although crude, there are already tutorials online on how to leverage ChatGPT and other AI apps to create character profiles, both for creative as well as business purposes. Imagine feeding an AI years of customer data in order to create the perfect profile, and then being able to engage in two-way dialogue? The insight one might gain is incredible. The same process can be used for characters in a novel, or even events and locations. Provide the AI with the historical events of a country and you could use it to converse back on forth on the energy or spirit of that country - its wants or needs from a sentient perspective. This tech is available now, albeit in a relatively primitive form, and is already being used by creatives that see the writing on the walls and immense potential for enhancing the creative process.
For anyone who still is unaware of how AI actually works, I highly recommend reading this rant on the subject of AI training, and this article. Really it comes down to understanding that generative AI platforms don’t keep some kind of… data bank of art. They don’t “pull” from some vat of artwork, they don’t actually take art and reconfigure chunks of it in order to form a new picture. Even marginally. AI is taught how to generate art much in the same way we learn, just at a much faster rate and greater scale. Of course, the argument is moot anyway, because caring about who “owns” a piece of art and whether or not someone else is allowed to “use” it for inspiration or otherwise is comically absurd. Remember, you technically can’t steal art, because images, sounds, and words cannot and will never “belong” to another human being. Only through complex and twisted physical laws can such a system be enforced.
The “just learn to draw” crowd is going to hate me for saying this, but the reality is that a person can dedicate years of their life to “drawing” and only be able to scratch the surface of being able to properly convey what’s in their mind’s eye. The reality is, art takes so many forms in part because expressing the ineffable is difficult business. Savants can spend a lifetime honing their craft, and still their message only takes hold years or even decades after they pass away. Myself, coming from both a hobbyist and professional art background, find the notion of gatekeeping art behind physical skill absurd. Years of time invested only to be able to transmute a tiny fraction of what’s on my mind - countless stories begging to be told, characters waiting to see the light of day. Their existence should hinge on my capacity to manipulate a piece of charcoal or a stylus? No. In fact, part of what it means to be a creator is to operate on a spiritual level, to overcome the physical and bring forth form via raw energy. AI art is more aligned with the true artistic process than most would care to admit.
Art, whether it’s a drawing, a novel, or a piece of music, serves 2 primary purposes. To deliver a message, and to edify those who receive it. Sometimes, the recipient isn’t even an individual - many of the greatest works of art were done to give glory to God, for instance, or to honor a royal house. Regardless, art, even when money is on the table, is a metaphysical process before anything else, that requires the transmutation of thought energy into physical form. Once you start making art about you, and claiming “you” are the reason why the art has meaning or value, you debase the entire process.