Creativity & Technological Evolution 

This series of posts explores how we can rethink the intersection of AI, creativity, and policy. From examining outdated regulatory metaphors to questioning copyright norms and highlighting the risks of stifling innovation, each post addresses a different piece of the AI puzzle. Together, they advocate for a more balanced, forward-thinking approach that acknowledges the potential of technological evolution while safeguarding the rights of creators and ensuring AI’s development serves the broader interests of society. You can read the first post in the series here.

Let me show my age here—does anyone remember the movie Fame?

There’s a scene where Bruno Martelli, a confident student, declares, “Violins are on the way out, you don’t need strings today.” He insists that with “a keyboard and some oscillators,” orchestras have become obsolete. The teacher’s response is simple yet powerful: “The music survived.”

This scene perfectly captures a recurring theme in the history of creativity. Every time a new technology comes along, people predict the end of traditional art forms. Yet, time and again, creativity not only survives—it thrives.

Technology: A Tool for Growth, Not a Threat

Take the Gutenberg Press. When it was invented, many feared that the painstaking art of manuscript copying by monks would vanish forever. And yes, the printing press transformed how books were produced, but it didn’t destroy writing or creativity. Instead, it democratised knowledge, making literature accessible to a broader audience and sparking an explosion of new ideas and artistic expression.

Or consider photography. When the camera was invented, people thought painters were doomed. Why spend hours painting when a camera could capture the same moment in an instant? But painting didn’t vanish. Instead, it evolved—movements like Impressionism and Cubism flourished, as artists found new ways to express themselves beyond mere replication of reality.

Film didn’t kill theatre, and electric guitars didn’t kill acoustic ones. These technologies expanded the toolkit available to creators, offering new ways to explore their craft. In fact, new technologies have even created entirely new art forms. Just look at the video games industry—within fifteen years of its inception, it surpassed the century-old film industry in value, creating fresh opportunities for storytelling, artistry, and engagement.

AI: Expanding the Boundaries of Creativity

The same holds true for AI. Just like violins didn’t disappear when synthesizers came along, AI won’t replace human creativity. It will push boundaries, open up new possibilities, and allow artists and innovators to do things we couldn’t have imagined even a decade ago. But the essence of creativity—the spark of human imagination—remains indispensable.

Instead of fearing AI, we should embrace it as the latest in a long line of tools that expand human potential. AI will help creative industries thrive by providing new ways to create, innovate, and engage audiences. But the true magic—the core of creativity—will always come from the human mind.

The Music Will Play On

The lesson here is simple: creativity will survive. It always has. Every time a new tool, technology, or innovation emerges, there’s a tendency to think it spells the end for what came before. But history tells a different story—one of adaptation, evolution, and growth.

And as always, the creative industries will continue to thrive, building on the spark of human ingenuity.

Caroline De Cock is a communications and policy expert, author, and entrepreneur. She serves as Managing Director of N-square Consulting and Square-up Agency, and Head of Research at Information Labs. Caroline specializes in digital rights, policy advocacy, and strategic innovation, driven by her commitment to fostering global connectivity and positive change.