It seems like every day there are new headlines about AI. On social media I've recently seen Ghibli-style art and Barbie doll trends flood newsfeeds. AI is also taking market share in the search business. No more scrolling through a novel before getting to a recipe you searched for. AI-powered chatbots will get right to the point.

As a tech enthusiast, I’m thrilled to see advancements in the industry about how AI can improve what we can create and accomplish. As a designer, I was hesitant at first, but after working with a variety of tools for a while it’s become easier to see the appeal. Here are some of my thoughts on the changing landscape, how it affects the advertising industry and the future of AI:

QUICK BACKGROUND

AI has come a long way in a short amount of time. On the hardware side, NVIDIA stock is currently up over 1,500% in the past five years. On the software side, OpenAI, a company that is less than 10 years old, is now valued at $300B.

However, the initial hype and enthusiasm around AI’s possibilities quickly revealed a divide: early-adopters were running full speed ahead, while others hesitated.

New tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney were launched and AI-integration with existing tools such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro became available. As more of these tools for creativity started to generate solid results, it became clear that AI could really enhance our work and increase our productivity to amplify creativity, not replace it. The essence of creativity will remain human, fueled by intuition, emotions and team collaborations.

Conquering Creative Fears: AI's Role as an Ally, Not an Adversary

With 83% of creative professionals already leveraging AI tools, the integration of AI in creative fields is less about AI taking over and more about how it can act as a powerful ally in the creative journey. As searches for AI-related topics now outpace those for pop culture icons like Taylor Swift, it's clear that interest in AI's potential is skyrocketing.

Yet, despite this growing adoption, emotional barriers and a lack of understanding about how to effectively use AI persist. Despite the fact that the majority of people today use AI at work (75%), many people fear AI. Yet 77% of the people who fear AI admit that those fears are emotional rather than rational, reflecting that, as is often the case—us humans are the problem.

Recent Superside statistics project that the global market value for generative AI will reach nearly $137 billion by 2030.

Five Ways to Boost Your Creative Genius with AI

1. Want to Analyze Data Fast? AI Finds New Pathways

AI excels in analyzing vast datasets to identify trends and patterns that might not be immediately obvious. For instance, AI models can speed up creative research by identifying behavior trends through reviews, keywords, and search phrases.

2. Less Mundane Tasks, More Time for Creativity

AI can automate routine parts of the process, such as resizing images or testing different color schemes, allowing creatives to focus on innovation. Image and video generation make it easier to present new ideas and prototypes to convey the vision for a campaign.

3. Looking for New Ideas? AI Can Be a Helpful Collaborator

AI tools can act as collaborative partners, offering suggestions and alternatives. This collaboration can lead to unexpected and fresh outcomes, pushing our creative boundaries further. The key here is that AI-powered tools make suggestions, but human creativity fine-tunes and perfects.

4. Real-Time Feedback, Faster Learnings

AI has the ability to analyze how content performs in real-time, enabling quicker adjustments and fine-tuning. The real-time data serves as a guide, but it’s the creative professional who interprets this feedback through the lens of human experience and emotional intelligence.

5. AI as a Gateway For New Creative Formations

AI has unlocked new ways to generate asset types, making it easier for designers to experiment with AR filters, VR, 3D modeling and more. It offers convenience and rapid testing to quickly create engaging experiences.

THE FUTURE OF AI

The conversation around AI in creativity is moving beyond the hype and hesitation towards a more nuanced understanding. As AI search becomes more popular, it will be important for advertisers to ensure brands are represented accurately by large-language models by including LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization) as an addition to traditional SEO.

In a world powered by AI, authenticity is the key to break through the noise.

Thanks for reading!

- Philip Levin, Creative Director at CRAFTSMAN+

Meet the Future with CRAFTSMAN+

At CRAFTSMAN+, we understand the delicate balance between technology and creativity. We are committed to leveraging the latest AI tools to enhance, not replace, the human