The Genius of Imagination in the Age of AI

Tery Spataro

I use my mind to bring together the essence of my personality, experiences, and senses. Our mind is the most fantastic tool to harness creativity. Other creators use similar methods. Regardless of what we use to create, our imagination allows us to envision and bring things into existence. Our mind is a powerful tool that can be used for good or evil. What we do with this power will decide how far we can go.

Like digital, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a means for creativity, not a replacement for imagination. What is artificial intelligence? Artificial intelligence is a broad field of computer algorithms inspired by human intelligence’s workings. We can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make any number of experiences better and more personalized, like suggesting books you may want to read based on your reading history. Many people think of AI (artificial intelligence) as the stuff of science fiction, but it’s already a part of our everyday lives.

Since day one, humanity has been using today’s advanced AI tools as the first stone used to make a fire. Every advancement has brought us closer to achieving creation. We all have the ability to imagine, no matter what age we are or where we are in the world.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Is Bringing Art To Life In My Studio

I am a creator that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a technological tool to bring my artistic imaginings to life. The AI understands and amalgamates patterns, colors, images, textures, forms, and shapes that I want in my creations. I feel like physical limitations do not limit my imagination. But I am fueled by my passion for creating. I am still using my hands and mind to make artistic creations and augment my creations with technology. This is where AI is applied. I feed the AI the images I photographed. I then set it free to create new images and ideas based on its understanding of my work. Finally, I get back an image that is nothing like what I made because this is a human to artificial intelligence collaboration. This is the future of artmaking with machine learning. Machine learning is when the AI learns about the artistic styles of the creator, and creativity will be something that will be a new way of communicating and visualizing.

“AI IS LIKE THE PAINTBRUSH AND CANVAS, BUT NOT IN THE WAY YOU THINK.” – TERY

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

When you paint a picture, you don’t just want to make it look pretty—you want to tell a story. You want to tell the story of your life. The story of your mind, heart, and soul is about you and what you want to say to the world. But can you do that with a paintbrush? Can you do that with a canvas? Well, yes—but it takes time, and it takes effort, and it takes practice. You must learn how to use the tools in front of you before you can create something beautiful. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. And what is AI, if not just another tool in your arsenal of creativity? AI is just as much a part of your imagination as anything else is—it’s just another tool for your storytelling. The difference between your brushes and canvas is that AI understands you as a creator, your patterns of creation, and finds new scenarios to express and expand your imagination and creativity. The scenarios that AI applications I use uncover forms that I never envisioned.

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Reimagining Our World

Imagination is the tool of creation. It’s a lens through which we can see our world and picture how we might change it. We have always used our imagination to transform the world around us, continuing to do so. But that doesn’t mean we should be afraid of new tools and new ways to imagine—just like a hammer doesn’t make a house, but it does make building one easier!

Technology provides us with new ways to imagine the future, and Artificial Intelligence will only expand that ability. So, Imagineers, take heed: AI is not here to replace you—it’s here to help you create more and better things than you ever thought possible.

“IMAGINATION IS THE ABILITY TO ENVISION THE GREAT UNKNOWN.” – TERY

We are Born with Imagination

And while tools like AI can help us and enhance our imaginative abilities, the imagination is a part of our biological makeup—a gift that we’ve all been given when we came into this world. It’s what makes us humans. It’s what separates us from every other living being.

But imagination also takes practice. Practice means we must be curious. Curiosity means asking questions about everything around us and constantly exploring new things (and sometimes old ones). This kind of practice will make our imagination grow even more powerful, and that power is how we create new things that change the world for good.But for me, my imagination will not be limited by boxes, labels, or categories that we put each other into to understand. Instead, as my imagination flows, it’s up to me to use the tools to create a visual form of storytelling to relate to the ideas I am trying to communicate.

What is imagination?

It’s a question we grow up asking, and as we grow older, our understanding of it deepens. If you’re like me, this deeper understanding often comes from realizing how imagination can be used for good or nefarious ends. For example, with the right tools and the right goals, I imagine my life could be better than it is… or it could go horribly wrong!

The same is true of AI. AI has been used by some to create incredible innovations for example in marketing—if you’ve ever seen an ad that seemed to know exactly what you’re into, you’ve witnessed first-hand its power. But others have taken advantage of AI to spread misinformation on social media platforms or hack into government databases.

So, what do we do? How do we harness the incredible creativity of AI with our imagination without losing sight of our humanity? It starts with us—what kind of lives are we living, what kind of people are we becoming? What kind of world are we creating for ourselves and for future generations?

Tery Spataro

About the Author:

Tery Spataro is a creator, science fiction author and enthusiast, futurist, and innovator. Her digital art extends both digital and physical realms—with some creations combining the two—and infuses the human condition with natural and technological elements to create kaleidoscopic experiences. Tery creates using AI-trained art applications and traditional digital tools; her portfolio showcases digital art and fine arts creations, surface design products, fashions, and several books she illustrated and wrote. Click here to learn more about Tery.

Featured image: Sacred Geometry by Tery Spataro, AI-generated background with digital painting by Tery, printed on canvas. More AI creation can be seen in Tery’s VR gallery. Headset not required but recommended.