In recent years, AI-powered tools have experienced explosive growth in the consumer market, most notably with the advent of ChatGPT, a large language model (LLM) that has both captivated the public imagination and raised significant scrutiny. This development echoes historical moments of technological disruption, such as the introduction of the camera and the printing press – innovations that sparked both excitement and concern for their impact on established practices and professions.

As generative AI tools for text, code, images, audio, and video creation become increasingly sophisticated and accessible, they present a unique opportunity to revolutionize creative fields. These tools promise substantial productivity gains and serve as powerful catalysts for inspiration, enabling creative professionals to explore diverse design spaces rapidly. The potential for overcoming "design fixation" –the tendency to become overly focused on a limited set of solutions – is particularly noteworthy, as AI can push the boundaries of conventional creativity, leading to more innovative outcomes.

The integration of AI into creative processes is, however, not without its challenges. The reliance on AI for idea generation raises critical questions about the risk of converging toward more predictable, less novel ideas. There are concerns that AI-generated content may contribute to a regression to the mean in creative quality, potentially limiting the divergent thinking essential to true innovation. This raises the question: Could AI, in its quest to enhance creativity, inadvertently narrow the scope of exploration to what is algorithmically generated, thus stifling the creativity it aims to augment? Further, issues of authenticity, originality, and the meaning of creations arise when encountering AI-generated content. Using AI in creative tasks challenges our understanding of authorship and the perceived value of art and design. As AI tools become more sophisticated and integrated into creative workflows, the tension between leveraging these technologies and preserving the human aspects of creativity becomes increasingly apparent.

In this Dagstuhl Seminar, we will delve into these complexities by exploring the evolving partnership between generative AI tools and human creativity. We aim to focus on three core topics by bringing together experts from design, art, computing, and human-computer interaction:

1. Critical Evaluation of AI-Enhanced Tools: Discuss and analyze the capabilities of AI tools that empower designers and creative professionals.
2. Ethical Governance: Reflect on the ethical implications of integrating AI into creative processes, focusing on ensuring the responsible and equitable use of these technologies.
3. Societal Implications: Examine the broader societal impact of delegating creative tasks to AI systems, including the potential consequences for the creative professions and cultural landscape.

The goal is to identify existing research gaps and to foster the development of AI tools that uphold ethical standards and preserve creative integrity. By considering the intimate relationship that artists, designers, and programmers often develop with their tools, we will explore how to integrate AI in ways that truly enhance, rather than diminish, the creative process.

To foster meaningful dialogue, the workshop will prioritize interactive activities and group discussions, minimizing traditional one-to-many presentations. We will kick off with a series of brief lightning talks to set the stage for deeper exploration and debate. Additionally, live demonstrations of current AI systems will be featured, offering participants a tangible sense of these technologies’ capabilities and sparking conversation on their practical applications in both research and practice.

Creative Commons BY 4.0

Tilman Dingler, Elisa Giaccardi, Steven Rick, and Irina Shklovski