Author: Midori Davis

Mark Amerika is a digital remix artist. What is your response to this kind of experimental writing with AI tools? 

I am familiar with remixing as a form of art involving audio and visual mediums, but using AI (specifically ChatGPT) as a kind of conversation partner to have a “call-and-response meta-remix jam session,” as Amerika puts it, is entirely new to me. That said, it makes perfect sense—ChatGPT was built to communicate with users, and it’s certainly plausible that art, regardless of medium, can be born from this communication. I find the concepts of “reciprocal influence” and “hybrid mind” very interesting, as it ties along with how we create and influence media, which in turn influences us. The innuendo Amerika used to describe the interactions between himself, ChatGPT, and Clarice Lispector’s works was not lost on me—I found it incredibly funny, but it also made a lot of sense. I myself am quite proud of my skills in writing and initially dismissed ChatGPT when I first heard about it, thinking that surely it would not come anywhere close to truly professional writing anytime soon. Now, I am quite impressed by how it is able to adapt based on the input you feed it, and I am convinced of its utility to assist with brainstorming, planning, actualizing, and editing for writing projects. It all depends on how you use it and whether you know how to use it to maximize its strengths for what you are trying to achieve with it.

How does Amerika understand the creative relationship with a GPT for creative writing or any kind of creative work?

Amerika uses ChatGPT like a sounding board, conversation partner, another version of himself (by feeding it samples of his work) and basically like another individual to talk with or bounce ideas off of entirely. From what he writes about his experiences with it, it is clear that he sees it as a tool, an extension of the human mind, and a DJ table that he can freely use to conceptualize, synthesize, and actualize ideas for virtually any creative endeavor, although ChatGPT seems to do writing best.

What is missing in the Omega Team scenario?

What was made clear towards the end of the scenario (although present from the very beginning) was the lack of long-term planning by the Omega Team upon achieving success after success with Prometheus. They achieved world unity under a single power, all starting with creating an AI (Prometheus) that could program AI systems, but they had no way of knowing how successful they would be when they just started. It seems like they just went with the flow, going along with whatever opportunities arose. There was also no clearly-defined central leadership within the Omega Team, as they were always referred to as “the Omega Team,” without any mention of specific individuals and their roles within the team. Looking at the story as a whole, I guess this makes sense as the individual becomes less and less important in favor of a single unified body as the scenario progresses. Another part of long-term planning that was absent was any concerns about ethics, which is arguably the biggest concern we have about AI in our world today.

What went wrong?

After multiple successes in various areas, the Omega Team became complacent with Prometheus’ choices and suggestions. This resulted in what the Omega Team might consider an optimal utopian future, but is really more dystopian as the Omega Team became dependent upon Prometheus. They acted upon Prometheus’ will and were basically controlled by it, and all of humanity effectively became puppets in turn.

What do we need to do to avoid the undesirable outcomes and maximize potential desirable outcomes?

Avoiding undesirable outcomes and maximizing potential desirable outcomes requires careful planning that should be re-evaluated regularly. Alongside this is the critical need to center humans in every conversation, and clearly define the goals of every action. If something is for general human benefit, people must understand exactly what that benefit is. Any ethical concerns will be addressed equitably, which highlights the importance of ethics committees. These committees may halt the speed of action and progress in many cases, but they are absolutely necessary in order to protect all human interests.

Album cover of “Plumage in Blue” by The Feathered Bebops:

The Feathered Bebops, in their new album “Plumage in Blue,” embody a classic, sophisticated jazz look with a twist. Their style is a mix of 1950s elegance and avian flair, featuring tailored suits and dresses in rich fabrics and colors that complement their feathers. The band exists in a vibrant, alternate 1950s, a golden era for jazz, where bird people and humans coexist and share their cultures. This period is filled with innovation in music, and The Feathered Bebops are at the forefront, blending traditional jazz with their unique, bird-inspired sounds.

Tracks:

1. Bayou Bebop Dreams – A nod to JB’s roots, combining bayou rhythms with classic bebop.
2. Peacock’s Prelude – A track showcasing Fitz’s colorful style and intricate piano skills.
3. Midnight Owl Groove – Beats’ signature piece, capturing the essence of late-night jazz sessions.
4. Flamingo Waltz – A melodic bass-driven piece by Chirp, blending jazz with world music influences.
5. Canary’s Serenade – Lark’s vocal showcase, mixing scat with soulful melodies.
6. Blue Feather Boogie – A lively number reflecting the band’s avian flair and upbeat energy.
7. Jazz Wings in Flight – An ensemble piece symbolizing the band’s journey and unity.
8. Crescent City Croon – A tribute to the vibrant jazz culture of the city where JB found his calling.
9. Velvet Tail Rhapsody – Fitz’s solo piece, blending jazz with hints of classical elegance.
10. Nocturnal Rhythms – Beats’ homage to the vibrant night scene that shaped her style.
11. Coastal Harmony – Inspired by Chirp’s travels, fusing jazz with diverse global sounds.
12. Luminous Songbird – A closing track highlighting Lark’s inspiring vocal journey.

These titles reflect the individual stories and styles of each band member while capturing the essence of their collective jazz spirit.

On stage, their presence is magnetic, with each member’s unique bird characteristics adding to the visual spectacle. The band’s promotional material, album covers, and posters blend art deco elements with vibrant illustrations of the members, capturing the energy and creativity of their music and era.

Note: while I consider myself a strong writer, I am very weak when it comes to creative fictional writing. I struggled considerably with this assignment. The following is what I would feed to a custom GPT:

You are an expert at fictional world-building for the purpose of assisting with creative writing projects. From the following key elements, help me establish the basic structure of a fictional world I can build upon to write a story that speculates on the future of human-AI relationships and the dual utopian/dystopian scenarios that can occur as a result.

Key Elements to Include:

• Era and Setting: 1950s USA and Soviet Union. Some scenes may focus on the Pentagon and the Kremlin.
• Environment: Extreme weather conditions, similar to those recorded from the 50s, have appeared as a result of climate change. The development of AI has in turn progressed our understanding of climate change and its causes. Even so, the general populace is currently distracted by the immediate rewards and conveniences provided by AI and fails to look ahead to the future to identify threats to human survival and the wellbeing of the earth.
• Food and Culture: Automated processes operated by AI allow for a wide variety of cuisines to be cooked in most households. Young people are starting to lose valuable home economics skills as a result of such conveniences.
• Economy: Hyper-polarization of “capitalism vs communism.” This conflict has been expedited by the development of AI. Financial warfare by way of hacking into the Federal Reserve System and the New York Stock Exchange is now a thing (attempted at least once).
• Religion and Education: Governments are pushing for education in math and science harder than ever before, as everyone wants to know how to use AI in whatever field they go into. Some have begun to almost “worship” AI as it has infinitely improved human life in developed countries thus far. Others have begun to see society deteriorate from a dependency on easily-accessible and convenient technology.
• Technology: AI has been incorporated into many mundane tasks of daily life, as well as corporations, the military industrial complex, and space research.
• Uniqueness: I am imagining the Cold War within the context of a battle for dominance over the development of AI. In what ways would the space race have been affected by the use of AI?

Initial inputs fed to ChatGPT: passages from Moby Dick, the Bible, and the Heart Sutra.

In the midst of a canvas, undefined,
Sublimity and mystery intertwined.
A gale over the Black Sea at midnight,
Where elements in unnatural fight,
On a blasted heath, winter’s ice unbound,
Time’s stream breaking, where no time is found.

Behold, the sixth seal breaks, earth quakes,
The sun darkens, the moon blood-awakes.
Stars fall like untimely figs from high,
The heavens roll, mountains and islands fly.

The Bodhisattva, in deep contemplation,
Saw emptiness in all creation.
The skandhas five, void, without a chain,
Releasing suffering, breaking pain.

Form and emptiness, in dance, entwine,
Each the other, in essence, divine.
Feeling, thought, choice, consciousness,
All in emptiness, find their rest.

Nature’s core, void, unmarred, unstained,
Not born, nor destroyed, unchanged, unchained.
In the vast void, no form to discern,
No sense, no feeling, nothing to yearn.

No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind,
No color, taste, touch, sound defined.
Nothing for the mind to hold or miss,
No act of sensing, no world of bliss.

A picture, a prophecy, a state of zen,
Merging in chaos, again and again.
A leviathan in shadows, or a cosmic play,
Each a fragment, in disarray.

In this mosaic of verses, see,
The vast tapestry of mystery.
A poem of fragments, of visions bold,
In words, the universe’s story told.

In this canvas of time and space,
Each sentence, a fragment, finds its place.
A creation, a destruction, a rebirth,
In these words, the essence of Earth.

The emergence of AI as a creative asset has rapidly become a part of artistic exploration and application. My short digital cinema/storytelling project, yet to be titled, will be enabled by a relatively new venture where AI may function as a well-controlled extension of complex creative human processes. This venture, which I call my “neoprocess,” will be a method unique to my way of thinking and working where AI aids in every aspect of creation — from conceptualization (starting with this research statement) and planning to the realization of creative ideas. My “neoprocess” itself will result from a reflection on metacognition, examining how I think about my creative thinking and expression, and how AI can augment this process. I will also take into consideration the affordances and limitations of various AI programs and how they may impact my process.

The essence of this project lies in the synergy between my artistic vision and AI’s analytical and generative capabilities. My “neoprocess” will be an exploration of this synergy, where AI acts as a sounding board for ideas, a structured planner outlining tasks and timelines, and a generative engine transforming abstract concepts into digital visual assets.

As of now, the narrative framework will be fluid, allowing for the growth of ideas influenced by AI’s responses to my input. Each story or scene will be a product of this collaboration, reflecting a unique blend of human “call” and machine-generated “response.” The technical execution will most likely involve using AI in scriptwriting, storyboarding, and even editing.

My “neoprocess” will be structured yet fluid, allowing for flexibility and creative freedom within a framework of AI-driven efficiency. In the initial phase, AI will assist in brainstorming and conceptualizing narratives, providing suggestions based on my input. My goal is to come up with something distinctly human-centric but AI-enhanced.

In the planning phase, AI tools will be used to lay out a detailed workflow, including timelines and task lists. This will ensure a streamlined process, balancing creative exploration with efficient and sound project management.

The creation phase is where AI’s generative abilities come to the forefront. AI, most likely MidJourney and RunwayML, will assist in creating initial visual assets, which I may then refine to align with my vision for the project. This phase will involve a constant back-and-forth between my creative inputs and AI’s output, embodying the essence of my “neoprocess.”

This project is not just a creative endeavor but also a philosophical and technical exploration of the intersection between human creativity and artificial intelligence. Through this experience I will aim to dig deep into the potential of AI in enhancing human creativity, focusing on potential process applications in digital cinema and storytelling.

By documenting and reflecting on this process, I want this project to contribute to a broader understanding of AI’s possibilities in creative industries. My hope is that it may serve as a case study for future artists and creators interested in harnessing AI’s potential, offering insights into the benefits, challenges, and drawbacks of this kind of AI-enhanced creative work.

I am interested in learning about AI creative tools to equip myself to adapt to a rapidly evolving job market.