HAT Forum

The Humanist Association of Toronto
http://www.humanisttoronto.ca/

Every Saturday we meet on Zoom to discuss a topic decided upon the previous week. These are topics of humanist interest, from a humanist perspective.

The topic of the discussion will be decided in a prior meeting, usually two weeks in advance. This week’s topic is: Creativity in the Age of AI, Introduced by Richard Dowsett

Artificial intelligence is challenging our traditional understanding of human creativity. Today, AI can compose music, write poetry, generate paintings, and produce ideas that can be difficult to distinguish from human creations. But is creativity simply the ability to produce something novel and compelling, or does it require consciousness, emotion, intention, and lived experience? From a humanist perspective, this raises fundamental questions about what makes us human, how we assign value to creative work, and whether AI will diminish or expand our creative potential. Perhaps the most important question is not whether AI can be creative, but what its emergence will teach us about the nature and significance of human creativity.
Five thought-provoking questions for discussion
1. What is creativity, really? If an AI produces an original, moving work of art, but has no apparent feelings, intentions, or personal experiences, is that genuine creativity? Does creativity require a conscious creator, or should we judge it solely by the result?
2. Does AI diminish the value of human creativity? If anyone can generate a beautiful painting, a compelling story, or a piece of music in seconds, will human-made art become less valuable—or will knowing that a work reflects a person's unique experiences, struggles, and emotions make it more valuable?
3. Will AI liberate human creativity or undermine it? Could AI free people from technical barriers and routine work, allowing more of us to explore our creative potential? Or might dependence on AI weaken our imagination, skills, and willingness to struggle through the difficult process of creating something ourselves?
4. If creativity is no longer uniquely human, what makes us special? Humanists often value human reason, curiosity, imagination, and our capacity to create meaning. If machines can increasingly perform tasks once considered uniquely human, should we rethink our understanding of human exceptionalism?
5. As a creative person, what is your attitude toward incorporating AI into your process? What creative lines would you not let AI cross?
6. As an avid reader, art aficionado or movie lover, what is your attitude to consuming creative works whose birthing is owed, in whole or in part, to AI? How would you react to the news that your favourite new author is an AI?

Meet our diverse group, trade perspectives in a free and open forum and learn from others as they learn from you!

BTW: don't be concerned if there are not many RSVP’s. Many HAT members attend regularly but don’t sign up on Meetup. Our online meetings have been very popular with 20-30 attendees.

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