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I never set out to become an AI artist. In fact, my entry into this world was completely unplanned. It was a coincidence that turned into a defining moment in my creative career. It all started with a simple agency project a few years ago, meant to showcase new technology to our clients. That year’s focus was AI.

I was asked to develop the concept and visual direction, and for the first time, worked with tools like Midjourney and ChatGPT. The results were wildly unpredictable and most of the images looked nothing like what I had in mind. But in that chaos, unexpected visuals sparked new ideas and led me down paths I wouldn’t have explored alone. It wasn’t outsourcing creativity; it felt like collaborating with an unpredictable, inspiring partner.

What started as curiosity quickly became essential to my process. Today, AI isn’t a novelty,  it’s a daily collaborator. I approach projects with a vision, and AI expands it, offering fresh angles, moods, and ideas I might have overlooked. It’s a brainstorming partner, a rapid prototyping tool, and a constant creative provocateur.

And this is exactly why I believe creatives can’t afford to ignore AI anymore. The tools have evolved at lightning speed. What felt like experimentation two years ago is now a core part of creative workflows in agencies, studios, and brands. Clients are actively asking for AI-generated visuals, and many companies are developing in-house AI production tools. If we don’t engage with these technologies, we risk becoming disconnected from how the industry is moving.

I get why many creatives are hesitant. There’s a fear that AI might take over jobs or make traditional skills feel obsolete. And like with any big shift, habits are hard to break. But the truth is, AI isn’t here to replace creativity – it’s here to take over the repetitive, mechanical tasks most of us never enjoyed anyway. What it leaves behind is the space to focus on what we do best: creating meaningful, original work. I think we should not just adapt, but experiment, play, even disrupt – to position AI as a medium rather than just a tool.

The challenge for creatives today is to define their role within this new landscape. It’s no longer just about guiding AI, but about shaping new aesthetics, setting ethical standards, and building better systems. Creatives need to act as curators, editors, critics, and storytellers – bringing original ideas to the table, steering AI-generated work in meaningful directions, and educating clients on how to use these tools wisely. While AI makes it easy to flood the world with content, it’s up to us to champion quality over quantity.

Looking ahead, I believe the true human value in the creative industries will lie in imperfection, emotion, and authenticity – these are things AI can mimic but never truly own. As machines perfect the craft of flawless images, I see a future where artists embrace spontaneity, tactility, and rawness as a form of creative rebellion.

The tools are here. The industry is shifting. The only real risk is refusing to evolve with it.

Learn more about Fan Shi here.