I definitely think AI is harming creative output because it's just giving strength and momentum to the American Cult of Productivity. Some people are so focused on just producing that they miss the fact that the act of creation itself, the journey of creation, is just as much a part of the end result as the thing itself, if not more so.
Also, I think the development of AI is happening so fast, and things are changing so quickly, that more and more people are getting repulsed by AI. Have you noticed a massive surge in nostalgia for the 1990s ever since AI began making an appearance? That doesn't feel coincidental to me.
There have been studies that do show declines in ability as people outsource various tasks to AIs. It is a legitimate concern… and problem.
Your point about the speed of AI progress is very valid. It is definitely progressing faster than society can adapt to or manage. It really will be interesting to watch how it changes society. I hope it’s not terrifying as well.
I had trouble wrapping my head around “AI raises the floor and lowers the ceiling.” So, I tried writing a couple of my thoughts alongside it:
1: AI Raises the Floor — Expanded Participation
- AI has made it possible to get a lot of things done that were simply not possible before for ordinary people
- Even though outputs aren't always high quality, good enough is better than nothing in most cases
- For a few people who genuinely want to produce decent output, easier access to tools gives them a real chance they never had before
- Most people were never going to become skilled designers or songwriters due to time and capability constraints. Now at least they can make something.
2: The Floor Rising Creates a Blurring Effect
- As the floor has risen for everyone, it has become difficult to differentiate between medium skilled and unskilled work
- However it can still be measured by looking at output quality, repeatability, and reliability
- But without an expert reviewer, that judgment remains difficult
- AI lets people touch and play across all levels, making it even harder to assess true skill from the outside
3: The Definition of Skill Has Evolved
- Craft and skill aren't static. They evolve with tools.
- Just like Canva changed what it meant to be a skilled designer — from mastering Photoshop to knowing how to leverage Canva effectively
- AI is doing the same thing. Skill now includes knowing how to use AI tools well to get high quality output
- And just as canva led to expanding the market for good quality graphic design work, similarly AI tools does too
4: The Lowering Ceiling Argument
- The journey from level 0 to level 1, and level 1 to level 10, requires enormous time and effort in any field
- Most people would have been restricted by their own aptitude, ability, and capability regardless of effort
- And most wouldn't have even tried in the first place
- But with better AI tools, easier access, and faster feedback, they can produce more, iterate faster, and explore further, pushing their skills upward if they want
5: People Who Care About the Craft, Still Do
- People who genuinely care about their craft continue to develop their skills
- Regardless of AI or even leveraging AI alongside their own creativity
Aditya, this was a great reply. Thanks for taking the time to think through the issue and write up your response. This is one of those topics that really deserves a long essay because of many of the very observations you made.
Another aspect of this that I think would manifest in the real world is that people who are new to some field could work with the AI to improve their taste, understand how quality is defined in a specific field, and the underlying principles that they would learn in a more formal setting. That is a pathway to actual improvement as long as the user is dedicated and consistent at trying to learn and improve.
I will not be watching that. I will not be reading Eliezer’s book (I had to look him up). I’m tempted to get Joanna Stern’s book though!
I like the ceiling/floor analogy. Ever the optimist here I think it’ll raise a lot of people up to be more in control as generalists but the experts will persist; hopefully with a higher level of expertise/output.
I was listening to Joanna - I think on Nilay Patel’s podcast and they were talking about the need for a really good consumer AI product. I hope one of the smart spinoff labs like Mira’s Thinking Machines is building something that’s going to be great.
My familiarity with Joanna comes from her Wall Street Journal articles and her videos. She’s a good reporter, keen observer, deviser of interesting and novel ways to test out new tech, and funny. I haven’t read her book, but I’m sure it’ll be great.
I definitely think AI is harming creative output because it's just giving strength and momentum to the American Cult of Productivity. Some people are so focused on just producing that they miss the fact that the act of creation itself, the journey of creation, is just as much a part of the end result as the thing itself, if not more so.
Also, I think the development of AI is happening so fast, and things are changing so quickly, that more and more people are getting repulsed by AI. Have you noticed a massive surge in nostalgia for the 1990s ever since AI began making an appearance? That doesn't feel coincidental to me.
There have been studies that do show declines in ability as people outsource various tasks to AIs. It is a legitimate concern… and problem.
Your point about the speed of AI progress is very valid. It is definitely progressing faster than society can adapt to or manage. It really will be interesting to watch how it changes society. I hope it’s not terrifying as well.
I had trouble wrapping my head around “AI raises the floor and lowers the ceiling.” So, I tried writing a couple of my thoughts alongside it:
1: AI Raises the Floor — Expanded Participation
- AI has made it possible to get a lot of things done that were simply not possible before for ordinary people
- Even though outputs aren't always high quality, good enough is better than nothing in most cases
- For a few people who genuinely want to produce decent output, easier access to tools gives them a real chance they never had before
- Most people were never going to become skilled designers or songwriters due to time and capability constraints. Now at least they can make something.
2: The Floor Rising Creates a Blurring Effect
- As the floor has risen for everyone, it has become difficult to differentiate between medium skilled and unskilled work
- However it can still be measured by looking at output quality, repeatability, and reliability
- But without an expert reviewer, that judgment remains difficult
- AI lets people touch and play across all levels, making it even harder to assess true skill from the outside
3: The Definition of Skill Has Evolved
- Craft and skill aren't static. They evolve with tools.
- Just like Canva changed what it meant to be a skilled designer — from mastering Photoshop to knowing how to leverage Canva effectively
- AI is doing the same thing. Skill now includes knowing how to use AI tools well to get high quality output
- And just as canva led to expanding the market for good quality graphic design work, similarly AI tools does too
4: The Lowering Ceiling Argument
- The journey from level 0 to level 1, and level 1 to level 10, requires enormous time and effort in any field
- Most people would have been restricted by their own aptitude, ability, and capability regardless of effort
- And most wouldn't have even tried in the first place
- But with better AI tools, easier access, and faster feedback, they can produce more, iterate faster, and explore further, pushing their skills upward if they want
5: People Who Care About the Craft, Still Do
- People who genuinely care about their craft continue to develop their skills
- Regardless of AI or even leveraging AI alongside their own creativity
Aditya, this was a great reply. Thanks for taking the time to think through the issue and write up your response. This is one of those topics that really deserves a long essay because of many of the very observations you made.
Another aspect of this that I think would manifest in the real world is that people who are new to some field could work with the AI to improve their taste, understand how quality is defined in a specific field, and the underlying principles that they would learn in a more formal setting. That is a pathway to actual improvement as long as the user is dedicated and consistent at trying to learn and improve.
I will not be watching that. I will not be reading Eliezer’s book (I had to look him up). I’m tempted to get Joanna Stern’s book though!
I like the ceiling/floor analogy. Ever the optimist here I think it’ll raise a lot of people up to be more in control as generalists but the experts will persist; hopefully with a higher level of expertise/output.
I was listening to Joanna - I think on Nilay Patel’s podcast and they were talking about the need for a really good consumer AI product. I hope one of the smart spinoff labs like Mira’s Thinking Machines is building something that’s going to be great.
Congrats to you and your daughters - that’s big.
My familiarity with Joanna comes from her Wall Street Journal articles and her videos. She’s a good reporter, keen observer, deviser of interesting and novel ways to test out new tech, and funny. I haven’t read her book, but I’m sure it’ll be great.