You Don’t Become Irrelevant for Using the Tool. You Become Irrelevant for Ignoring It.

Every generation of artists faces the same question:

If you use new technology, are you still a “real” artist?

When Photoshop was released, many traditional photographers dismissed it as cheating. If you used it, you were immediately discredited. The same thing happened with digital painting, music production software, and even word processors.

Now, it’s happening again — this time with AI.

The pattern is clear: technology doesn’t replace creativity — it extends it.

The Tool Isn’t the Threat — Stagnation Is

Critics of AI often frame it as a threat to originality. And the fear is valid: generative tools can produce art, lyrics, visuals, and entire videos in seconds.

But quantity is not quality.

At its best, AI accelerates exploration. At its worst, AI reinforces mediocrity.

Because like any creative tool, AI reflects what you put into it.

And that brings us to a key point:

Garbage In = Garbage Out.

If your prompt is vague, the result will be too.
AI won’t hand you meaning if you haven’t done the thinking first.

These days, students at almost every level are using AI. I tell my boys:
If you’re going to use it, you better be able to show your work.

Don’t just ask:

“Summarize The Great Gatsby”

Ask something that proves you read it:

How does Gatsby’s obsession with the green light symbolize his relationship with the American Dream, and how does Fitzgerald use that symbol to critique society in the 1920s?

That kind of prompt forces thought. And that’s the difference.

When the input is thoughtful — when it’s driven by a clear idea and a willingness to refine — the output becomes useful. Even inspiring.

The real threat isn’t the tool.
It’s assuming that using it is enough.
Or worse — refusing to use it at all.

You don’t become irrelevant for using the tool. You become irrelevant for ignoring it.

Good AI Use vs. Bad AI Use

Not all AI use is created equal. Here’s the distinction:

Good AI Use:

• Starts with a clear creative vision
• Uses AI to prototype or iterate quickly
• Prompts with specificity, nuance, and purpose
• Treats output as a sketch — not a final product
• Respects craft and brings original input to the table

Bad AI Use:

• Asks AI to “just make something” and posts the result
• Relies on generic prompts and accepts the first answer
• Replaces creative thinking with automation
• Seeks speed over substance
• Publishes without revision, context, or voice

AI isn’t inherently good or bad — it reflects the intent and effort of the person using it.

Why Creators Feel Threatened (And Why They Shouldn’t Be)

Painters. Songwriters. Illustrators. Authors.

Many traditional artists feel uneasy — or even hostile — toward AI. The fear is completely understandable.

• It mimics style.
• It outputs faster than human hands ever could.
• It can flood markets with mass-produced content.

But here’s the perspective that’s often missing: AI doesn’t understand why something is good — only how it’s shaped. The soul, the spark, the story? There’s no replacing because it till has to come from the artist.

AI is not the end of art. It’s the beginning of a new creative workflow.

For example:

• A songwriter can sketch out melody ideas in minutes, instead of hiring a band.
• A visual artist can test compositions or lighting without wasting canvas.
• A filmmaker can storyboard with more depth and speed.

AI, when used thoughtfully, frees creators to focus on what matters: the vision, the story, and the heart.

The Future Belongs to Savvy Prompt Input

We’re entering an era where prompting is part of the creative skillset. Not as a replacement for talent — but as a way to unlock and accelerate it.

Great AI output requires great input:

• Clear ideas
• Precise language
• Iterative refinement
• Taste

If you’re afraid AI will replace you, you’re probably asking the wrong question.
Instead, ask: “How can I use this to push my craft further than I could alone?”

Final Thought

Every generation of creatives has watched new tools disrupt their process.

Every generation of creatives has doubt.

But the best creators have always done the same thing: they adapt.

AI isn’t the enemy of creativity. But ignoring it might be.