Need a New Year’s Resolution for working with AI?

Resolve to curate and build.

Using generative AI means getting a whole lot of bad along with the good. Pick the bits you find valuable and move them forward, editing, reworking and making sure they pay into your concept. Never just generate and think “done”.

Resolve to be unabashedly transparent.

There is no shame in using AI (or not using it) in any of your projects. Be open and honest with where words and images come from. Your legal department will thank you, but also showing what the initial output was vs your final idea is a really fun ride to take people on.

Resolve to have an idea.

AI isn’t the idea, nor is it the answer. it’s a tool to help you bring your ideas to life.

Resolve to not believe the hype.

Are people telling you in all caps how the latest release of whatever is going to change everything? Feel free to not smash that like button. Resist the urge to keep up with it all, because you honestly can’t (and don’t need to, a lot of it is noise).

Resolve to play.

No one was born understanding how to use Discord, to generate images with Midjourney. It’s ok that the first things you generate aren’t as good as that one person you saw on TikTok. Start somewhere and set aside a little time each day to explore and learn.

Resolve to unplug.

Sometimes the best use of AI is as an example of what you don’t want to do. Make sure you’re still doing what works for your as a creative - using a pen and paper, going outside and taking a walk, talking to another human. You know, old fashioned stuff like that.