Why tools like ChatGPT can dull your creative spark
If there’s one thing humans are good at, it’s seeking out shortcuts to avoid boredom or discomfort. It’s no wonder so many of us are hooked on AI tools like ChatGPT. Instead of sitting with the discomfort of ‘not knowing’, we can get answers in seconds. Satisfying? Yes. Good for us? Not necessarily.
Over-using AI comes with many side-effects, including weakening your critical thinking skills and dulling your creative spark. Creativity and critical thinking are a bit like muscles — the more you use them, the stronger they get.
Your brain builds pathways based on what you practice. When you wrestle with ideas, those neural pathways strengthen. When a tool does the wrestling for you, your neural pathways may become weaker. Your brain wants to be efficient, and if you’re not using certain pathways, it won’t invest energy into keeping them active.
Think first, polish later
Instead of asking AI before starting a project, wait until you’ve done plenty of your own thinking and brainstorming. Set a timer and work on the problem without any devices and see where you end up. If you want to use AI, share the product of your ‘manual thinking’ and ask it to build on what you’ve got so far.
Make mistakes
Following the wrong idea or taking the wrong turn is part of the creative process. It’s not normal to produce a polished solution in mere seconds like ChatGPT. You’re a human being, not a machine. Fight off perfectionism, one mistake at a time.
Trust the process
Creativity is rarely linear. It can take hours, if not days or weeks, for ideas to fully form. Some ideas will come to you right on schedule, while others will drop in while you’re having a shower or out for a walk. Be patient, the solution will come.
Seek out diverse perspectives
Your own conversations with AI can become somewhat of an echo chamber and this can influence your creative output. You may find your ideas become stale, or you constantly repeat certain approaches. To combat this, mix up your media diet. Consume diverse perspectives and avoid asking AI to summarise content for you.
Give yourself time
AI is warping our perception of time. It can give you a false sense of speed — and it can be tempting to try to supercharge your productivity. But this can lead to rushing towards solutions without even fully understanding the problem you are trying to solve. True creativity isn’t measured by how quickly it blossomed, but of how much it resonates with its audience. Don’t rush, you’ll get there.
Best used sparingly to add a bit of extra pizzazz to an already delicious meal. It’s the cherry on top of creativity, not the whole cake.