As you can imagine, I'm trying out every Ai tool and implementation I can get my hands on. While most are panicking and trying to steer clear of them, fearful of Ai taking their jobs (and they might not be wrong), I'm taking the time to understand these features, play with them, and try to envision how this technology will look like in two or three years' time.
Right now, there are a bunch of amazing tools out there, from video to fintech. The truth is, none of these will render you jobless just yet! Most of these AI features are amazing and mind-blowing, yet they fail in very fundamental aspects and can't compete with human creation.
That's why it's important for any creator, no matter the field, to start interacting with these tools without fear. Play around to understand their capabilities and by contrast, their limitations.
Blockade Labs and Adobe break the internet.
Blockade Labs and Adobe leading the way? But it's not all smooth sailing in this tech-driven world.
Take a moment to picture this - with a mere sketch and text prompt, you can now birth a fully-realized 360-degree landscape (kind of). It feels like stepping into a sci-fi movie, doesn't it?
This isn't a dream but a reality brought to us by the genius team of Blockade Labs. Their innovative Ai generator is all about putting the power of creation in your hands. Now that's a massive leap in democratizing creativity! Perhaps one of those tools will open the door to a new kind creator economy.
The innovation doesn't stop there. The digital giant, Adobe, is redefining boundaries with their new Photoshop feature, the "Generative Fill" via Firefly Ai. This tool, powered by their Ai suite, lets you conjure up new objects and enhance your creations layer upon layer. Factor in Adobe's commitment to copyright respect and focus on media provenance, and we're looking at a pretty impressive design toolkit.
However, this leap in technology isn't being met with universal applause. It's no secret that some in the creative community have voiced their concerns; even myself, as a non-professional photographer, have concerns. The Ai-driven enhancements, while cool in the innovation sphere and accessibility, do bring along a certain “threat.”
With such tools readily available to anyone, the need for professionals like photographers and photo editors is being questioned. Perhaps not now, but in the mid to long term. Will these advanced tools make certain creative roles redundant? That's a debate still in progress.
Regardless, there's no denying the transformative power of these advancements. The intersection of creativity and technology, as seen through Blockade Labs and Adobe's developments, is indeed fascinating and ever-evolving.
It's a fantastic journey, and we're all aboard for the ride, we like it or not. The key will be to find that perfect harmony where technology amplifies human creativity without overshadowing it. And regardless, have a close eye on the technology while it unfolds because I don’t believe any regulation or a popular protest will prevent it from keeping advancing and every aspect of human creation.
Creative Mentorship
On a different note, something exciting is happening this year. I've decided to join forces with Asia and step into the Creative Draft as a mentor - in my spare time, of course. You might know about my YouTube channel (yes, I know, it's been a bit quiet lately), and you may also be aware that I've previously offered private mentorship sessions. But now, I'm eager to take things a tiny bit further.
Now, why am I doing this? Well, I’m very passionate about creators, and as someone with a background in finance, I've noticed how often most creatives can struggle when it comes to the business side of things. That's where I want to step in and make a difference. My goal is to help creatives not just survive (no need to starve), but thrive, find new pathways, and improve areas of their creative business by equipping them with the guidance and tools they need.
So, teaming up with Asia on the Creative Draft is the perfect opportunity for this. She's got a fantastic vision for this community, and I'm thrilled to contribute in my own way. Our goal is to create a hub where creatives, especially illustrators and artists, so all can learn, connect, and feel supported.
So, what will you find in the new Creative Draft? We've worked on creating three main pillars that I believe are key to any creative's journey:
A Supportive Community: This is a safe private space where you can connect with other artists, get advice, find potential collaborators, and more. We believe that a thriving community can fuel your creative ambitions and give you the inspiration you need to push your boundaries.
Learning Platform: We've designed courses, workshops, and exercises aimed at not only improving your art but also helping you find your unique style. But we go further than that. We also provide guidance on growing your art career, managing client work, building a powerful portfolio, licensing, pricing, and more.
Creative Mentorship: This is where Asia and I come in. We offer limited personalized 1:1 sessions tailored to your unique needs. Whether you have questions about pricing, contracts, project management, or content strategy, we're here to help. We want to make the business side of art less daunting and more approachable. Both have packed agendas, so the cohorts are limited, and we conduct them in English or Spanish.
So if you are interested or that’s something that might interest an artist friend, the link is below. Let's work together to make the creative world a little less scary and a lot more empowering!
Join The Creative Draft, take a look, or share with illustrators
or creatives that might like to join
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