Generation AI: Exploring the future of creativity with David Porte Beckefeld

'Euphoric Permutations’, a digital Collage of VR Sculpted 3D works by David Porte Beckefeld

With Generative AI no longer a distant prospect, we have reached an explosive turning point, transforming the way creatives everywhere approach creativity and innovation.

For Australian 3D/VR artist David Porte Beckefeld, emerging tech and digital arts have always been at the forefront of his work, from learning Photoshop at age 10, to pursuing a career in digital media and exploring 3D and virtual realities in more recent years.

We caught up with David to explore how Generative AI is evolving, and what its evolution means for the future of creativity.

Here’s what he had to say.

A new superpower that is reimagining creativity

From ideation to concepting to execution, Generative AI is reimagining traditional creative workflows.

While Generative AI will transform the creative process, it can only mimic - not replace - the role of the creator. Generative AI should be seen as another powerful tool in the creator toolbox, helping them further focus on how they can bring depth, emotion, and authenticity to their work.

“Anyone can pick up and use Generative AI tools, but it’s about the human input and allowing the AI to power you,” he says. “What it all comes down to is the impact of the output and if it’s used contextually and in the right manner.”

The key to balancing the use of AI in the creative process, according to David is “making sure the value of the work doesn’t come from the use of AI, but rather the theory or concept employed alongside the tool.”

Generative AI is helping emerging creators dream bigger

Generative AI has ushered in a new age where creativity is accessible to everyone, regardless of their skill level.

Emerging creators are in an especially unique position as Generative AI continues to be integrated into their learning environments, unlike artists who learned traditional techniques and now have to adapt to new technologies.

This familiarity removes a barrier of adoption, allowing them to leverage new tools and technologies to push the boundaries of what’s creatively possible.

Emerging creators are learning in a world with an “overwhelming amount of choice of what tool to use,” says David.

When choosing tools like Generative AI, they should still take the time to explore the theory, concepts, ideas and disciplines in the application of these tools, as that is “a big part of what separates good work from work hinged upon a trend,” David says.

Creators that can find the balance between human input and machine generation are best positioned to pave the way forward with their work. According to David, emerging creators can dream bigger when they spend the time “finding what they want to achieve, building their own identity and brand, and owning that.”

It’s inevitable, so make sure you pick the right tools

The conversation around Generative AI is constantly changing and evolving – much like the technology itself – however, it’s clear that it’s here to stay.

The debate, however, should not be whether Generative AI should be incorporated into the creative process, but rather which Generative AI tools have been responsibly trained and which companies are using it the right way.

For David, it all comes down to ethics and doing things properly. He says that being “scared of Generative AI and not giving it a go would be like being scared of the internet and not giving that a go.”

To embrace Generative AI, it’s up to individuals to identify and engage with the brands using it responsibly and the businesses that are building the tools to be ethical.

"I think as long as the organisations who employ AI into these various industries prioritise safe ethics and practices, I genuinely believe there is a bright future for AI to help mankind,” says David.

One of the biggest misconceptions he sees is AI infringing on copyright.

“With large language models, the machine learns the same way a student would if a teacher were to show them how to make art,” he explains. “Generative AI is using the theories that the teacher has taught them. For Adobe Firefly, this means learning from royalty free stock assets.”

He urges others to try it – to see how it sparks creativity and streamlines workflows – before ruling it out of the creative process altogether.

The Generative AI toolkit:

Adobe Firefly is our family of generative AI models designed to jump-start creativity and accelerate workflows.

Generative AI, as with any AI, is only as good as the data on which it’s trained. Firefly is trained on Adobe Stock images, openly licensed content and public domain content where copyright has expired.

Discover your toolkit for creating the future with Adobe Firefly, Adobe Firefly integrated with Adobe Express, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

Hear more insights from David and learn more about how creators are dreaming bigger with Generative AI at Adobe MAX 2023.