Why I’m Not Afraid of AI (As an Artist)

As a ceramicist, I actively resist perfection. I want my pieces to be functional, but feel distinctly handmade. To be, in some ways, a small form of protesting against the mechanization of such an ancient art form.

The rise of AI has sparked fear in the art world that artists are going to rapidly become obsolete. Why hire an artist when AI technology can generate an artwork instantaneously? Will it soon be impossible to tell the difference between work made by a human and work generated by a machine?

While these fears carry validity, I believe AI will actually ignite a counter-culture movement away from automation and industrialization. As more things become optimized, people will begin to crave the opposite: handmade objects that carry the resonance of human touch. One-of-a-kind pieces shaped by time, carefully honed skill, and intention.

Let me be clear—I am not in favor of the many ways AI is shaping human society. But I refuse to live in fear that it will make artists irrelevant. If anything, I’m intrigued by the possibility that this moment could give rise to an artistic movement that pushes back against perfectionism and reclaims the value of being human.