Creativity cannot be computed
A presentation at Web Dev Conference in in Bristol, UK by Hidde de Vries
c a n n y t ot i v i t a e r C be computed HIDDE DE VRIES - WDC BRISTOL - 10-2026
I love music and books and films
“I think [creators] tend to overestimate the value of their specific content in the grand scheme of this.” – Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook, in interview with The Verge (2024) theverge.com/24253481/meta-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-ar-glasses-orion-ray-bans-ai-decoder-interview
“Creativity has been easier for AI than people thought” – Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI at WSJ Tech Live (2023) youtube.com/watch?v=byYlC2cagLw
“You can see Dall-E generate amazing images, write creative stories with GPT-4, whatever…” – Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI at WSJ Tech Live (2023) youtube.com/watch?v=byYlC2cagLw
“Creativity has been easier for AI than people thought” – Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI at WSJ Tech Live (2023) youtube.com/watch?v=byYlC2cagLw
log.hidde.blog
log.hidde.blog
log.hidde.blog
I love music and books and films
I also love computers
but we tend to overestimate what they can do
we tend to overestimate tech progress
• . . T / Elon Musk reveals plans for high X
- → The Varga
8 www.theverge.com/2013/8/12/4614940/elon-musk-reveal ⽬ 120% r g e r mo de l ca pa ble of t r a n s p o r t i n g car s. U n a tol low ing co nte ren ce cal l, Menu + Musk said he expected a prototype unit might take only three or four years to complete given the right project leader, including acouple years to acclimate themselves to the project. “If it was my top priority, I could probably get it done in one or two years.”
T E l o n Muks reveals palns for hgih x + . + → c • 8 www.theverge.com/2013/8/12/4614940/elon-musk-reveal E s e r u s n i t t a h m e c a o t s r a a c o u p ey e to the project. “If it was my top priority, I could probably get it d o n e in o n e or two years.” >
. . + . & Gates plans an end ot spam in t X → C ⼜
- ⽬ • 8 www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/gates-plans-an-end-to-spam-in-two-years-75265.html UK EDITION INDEPENDENT NEWS LOG IN / REGISTER SUBSCRIBE NOW SPORT VOICES CULTURE US election LIFESTYLE INDYBEST TRAVEL Black Friday ENHANCED B Y Google MORE INDEPENDENT t y News > Business > Business News Gates plans an end to spam in two years Daul G a i t u a r e C u n d a u 2 5 l n u r 2 0 0 / 0 1 . 0 0 G M T . a C a m m a n t e “Two years from now, spam will be solved,” he told a select group of World Economic Forum participants in Davis, Switzerland. Gates said his company is working on a “magic solution” based on the concept of “proof” - identifying the sender of the e-mail. petrifying new weapon “Two years from now, spam will be solved,” he told a select group of World Economic Forum participants in Davis, Switzerland. Gates said his Paul makes controversial admission after beating Tyson company is working on a “magic solution” based on the concept of “proof” - identifying t h e sender of t h e e-mail. Ukraine latest: Fury in Moscow One method involves requiring the sender to solve a puzzle that only a as Kyiv to use US missiles in Russia flesh-and-blood person can handle. Another is a “computational puzzle” that a computer sending only a few messages could easily handle, but that would be prohibitively expensive for a mass-mailer. Popular videos
Creative Review, 21 September 2021
Turns out, when AWS is down, your art is down.
we tend to overestimate computing
while underestimating creative work
What is computing?
Computing = manipulating numbers
NASA, “When computers were human” (nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/jpl/when-computers-were-human)
NASA, “When computers were human” (nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/jpl/when-computers-were-human)
~2000 BC Clay tablets in Babylonia (present-day Iraq)
~2000 BC Plimpton 322 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plimpton_322
Computing = manipulating numbers
Computing = manipulating data
Computing = completing tasks automatically
Computing = throwing tech at something
Charles Babbage
The Difference Engine (1820s) The Analytical Engine (1830s)
Diagram with Note G Ada Lovelace
“It is desirable to guard against the possibility of exaggerated ideas that might arise as to the powers of the Analytical Engine. ” – Ada Lovelace, also in Note G
hidde.blog/book-tip-turings-vision
= ~ A Proposal for the CE EN IG LL TE IN L IA IC TIF AR ON T EC OJ PR CH AR SE RE ER MM SU DARTMOUTH be e nc ige ell int l cia tifi ar of dy stu n ma 10 , nth mo 2 a t tha e os op We pr w Ne r, ve no Ha in ge lle Co th ou rtm Da t a 56 19 of ca rr ie d out during th e su m m er ery ev at th re ctu nje co the of sis ba e th on d ee oc pr to s i Ha mp sh ire . The study epr so be e pl ci in pr in n ca e nc ge lli te in of e ur aspect of learning or any other feat be ll wi pt em att An . t i te ula sim to de ma e b n ca ine ch ma a t tha d cis ely de scr ibe made to find how to make mac hine s use lang uage , form abst ract ions and conc epts , We es. elv ms the e rov imp and , ans hum for ed erv res now ms ble pro of ds kin solve f i ms ble pro se the of e r o m r o one n i de ma be can e anc adv t can nifi sig a thi nk tha t a carefully selected group of scientists work on it together for a summer.
“AI was harder than we thought.” – John McCarthy (2006) From Melanie Mitchell’s presentation “Why AI is harder than we think”
1843 1952-1955 2002 The first “algorithm” Compilers and COBOL First robotic vacuum cleaner 1933 1965 2007 Turing machine concept First software engineer (ever); got people to the moon Invention of the iPhone
2026 “AI will fix all of our problems”
“It is desirable to guard against the possibility of exaggerated ideas that might arise as to the powers of the Analytical Engine. ” – Ada Lovelace, in her notes
Creativity and arts
Creativity = problem solving Making text sizing on the web better Getting spiders to follow your every movement Getting people not to lie on forms Designing for calm
The presence of creativity is the absence of dullness
Video for “Manon” by De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig
choices
Immanuel Kant: the ability to produce works that are not only “original”—since “there can be original nonsense” —but also “exemplary” plato.stanford.edu/entries/creativity
Boden’s three types of creativity Combinational Exploratory Transformational
Boden’s three types of creativity Combinational Espresso tonic, Rotterdam (2022)
Boden’s three types of creativity Combinational Exploratory Herbie Hancock + band in Toronto (2024)
Boden’s three types of creativity Combinational Exploratory Transformational
Boden’s three types of creativity Combinational Exploratory Transformational The first chocolate bar (1847)
Boden’s three types of creativity Combinational Exploratory Transformational The first chocolate bar (1847)
Creativity Art Design Aesthetics
Creativity is it new & interesting ?
Creativity is it new & interesting ? Design does it function?
Creativity is it new & interesting ? Design Aesthetics s i h t is ? l u f i t u a be does it function?
Creativity Art Design Aesthetics is it new & interesting ? what makes it art? s i h t is ? l u f i t u a be does it function?
Creativity Art
Entertainment
What is art?
films
books
paintings
poetry
street art
music
games
opera
photography
plays
some of your toots
Art isn’t always easy to recognise
“All the good times we spent together” by Alexandre Lavet (2016).
“Fountain” by Marcel Duchamp (1917).
“Peanut butter platform” by Wim T. Schippers (1969).
Art is legitimised
Art is legitimised Artist puts it out “as art” Audience wants to pay for it Institutions want to display it
Art has critics
Art has critics Well executed Original / creative Great ideas/concepts Clichéd Captivating Stunning
Art is appreciated conditionally
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Appreciating art Personal experiences Knowledge of context in history Knowledge of artist Descriptions Prerequisites (like language)
Appreciation is a continuum read artist’s biography no context gone through similar struggle art historian specialised in this genre
Art is repeated
Scene from La Traviata at the Metropolitan Opera in New York
P O S1 2 1 3 ABBA 645 1 1450 fl l o m SOS P Ot AR LOPUCTION
Still from music video of Portishead’s version of “SOS” by ABBA
choices
Art is repeated
David Hockney Portrait of an Artist (Pool with two figures)
Art is repeated
ESI GNERS ★BOOT SEC ND D EVELOPERS A HE CREATIVE WEB CONFERENCE FOR D ブルディーシー★ T WEBDEUCOT THE 9TH OF OCTOBER IN BRISTOL, UK 敗者
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Art is repeated
Art may contain intentions
Students interview artist Geoffrey Chadsey tang.skidmore.edu/collection/explore/202-shifting-poses
laurents.art on Instagram Künstler/in !”# 3 Years old $
choices
repeats/ reimagined critics legitimisation Art is fuzzy intentions (maybe) appreciation
Art = life
What can art do?
Art can make the artist think
Artists process life through their art
Frida Kahlo Las Dos Fridas (1939)
Art can also make the audience think
Art can show us futures we should not want
Art can capture the political zeitgeist
Art can show us what’s wrong in reality
Art can show us a mirror to reflect
Devolved Parliament, by Banksy
Details from “Devolved Parliament” by Banksy, copyright graffiitstreet.com
Konzerthaus columns covered with 14,000 discarded life vests (2016) . Photo copyright Clemens Bilan / Getty Images
Paul McCartney singing “Yesterday” in New York (1965) . Still from YouTube.
Adele singing “Someone like you” at Tiny Desk (2011) . Still from YouTube.
Photo of Ai Weiwei’s S.A.C.R.E.D. installation (2013) .
THE RT h R M O N I TO R
Art can be used to show solidarity
Art can be used to show solidarity Led by Donkeys paint the Ukranian flag a year after the Russian invasion (2023)
Marvin Gaye singing “What’s going on”.
Still from video of “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar.
Kendrick Lamar performing on top of a police car at BET awards (2015)
Me being on a cop car, that’s a performance piece after these senseless acts – Kendrick Lamar, in interview with TMZ tmz.com/2015/07/02/kendrick-lamar-responds-alright-geraldo-rivera-bet-awards-controversy-tmz-live/
Me being on a cop car, that’s a performance piece after these senseless acts (…) This is our music. This is us expressing ourselves. – Kendrick Lamar, in interview with TMZ tmz.com/2015/07/02/kendrick-lamar-responds-alright-geraldo-rivera-bet-awards-controversy-tmz-live/
Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers (1888). Activists throw a can of tomato soup on the work at National Portrait Gallery (2022).
What it is like to love
I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
You are / my fire / the one / I desire
What it is like to migrate
What it’s like to be fed up with the status quo IJSLAND at PAARD, The Hague
What it’s like to be young
Guernica by Pablo Picasso (1937)
Bebelplatz / Opernplatz, Berlin (Wikipedia)
“The Empty Library” by Micha Ullman (Wikipedia)
Exciting Like Im pr es siv e Add a comment… Comment Loo ks g r e a t j Repost Send Exc> Aw e s o m e p r o d u c t ® “
AI is so good at simulating school and business language – Oliver Reichenstein, “AI and the end of writing”
AI is so good at simulating school and business language because a lot of our own understanding in both spheres is largely simulated. – Oliver Reichenstein, “AI and the end of writing”
Art can insult the audience
“In and Out of Love (White Paintings and Live Butterflies)”) by Damien Hirst
Mistakes in art can be beautiful
Art can make us think Art can move us Art can take a stance Art can support a movement Art can capture complex human human experiences Art can record collective memories
Art can make us think Art can move us l l a l a n o i t p o Art can take a stance Art can support a movement Art can capture complex human human experiences Art can record collective memories
the point isn’t always the art itself
The artist’s intention reflection research skill world view art
The artist’s voice life experience talent background culture art
The audience’s art shared experiences
“Pop music is a promise that you aren’t listening alone” — Mat Dryhurst
The audience’s emotion art reflection empathy understanding inspiration
an artwork before making / after releasing Source: Wikipedia (Iceberg)
Net als altijd gingen we naar de eetzaal en Meaning is in between the lines aten ons avondeten. We gingen in bad. Daarna maakten we een fles goede wijn open die ik voor een speciale gelegenheid had bewaard. We dronken er samen van en ik speelde gitaar. Haar gebruikelijke favorieten van de Beatles zoals “Nor wegian Wood” en”Michelle”. Het was heel gezellig. We deden het licht uit, we kleedden ons uit en kropen in bed. Het was een heel warme nacht en zelfs met het raam open kwam er geen zuchtje wind naar binnen.
can computers have intention skills reflection experiences research a world view ?
Computers are often part of the toolset to make artifacts. Still from “What is Techno?” by 343 Labs on YouTube
And how humans choose to use them is decisive for the quality of the artifacts
“It’s a tool.” – Mira Murati, (then) CTO of OpenAI (2024). when asked if LLMS would produce creative works youtu.be/yUoj9B8OpR8
Creativity cannot be computed
Art is as much about the artist and audience than its deliverables.
Art is much more than an artifact.
“It is desirable to guard against the possibility of exaggerated ideas that might arise as to the powers of the Analytical Engine. ” – Ada Lovelace, in her notes
We can use computers to express ourselves creatively
But making creative work is about process, intentions and creativity.
But making creative work is about process, intentions and creativity. Not the output or tools.
I love computers
but they don’t use creativity in the way artists can
Make art
Enjoy art
Thank you! Thanks to: Paul van Buuren, Arjan Eising, Miriam Suzanne, Vasilis van Gemert, Geart de Vries, Jelmer van der Linde, Melinda Seckington, Yi-Chu Lin (e” ), Niels Leenheer. Slides + links are live on hidde.blog/slides
Links tante, On “AI” Art https://tante.cc/2024/09/06/on-ai-art/ SEP, The definition of art https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/art-definition/ Ada Lovelace https://computerhistory.org/blog/ada-lovelace-day/ National Geographic, “This ‘Countess of Computing’ wrote the first computer program” https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/ article/this-countess-of-computing-wrote-the-first-computer-program The project plan to invent artificial intelligence in a summer https:// raysolomonoff.com/dartmouth/boxa/dart564props.pdf Review of one of Boden’s books https://anyoldmusic.com/creativity-and-artbook/
Links The Atlantic, AI can’t make music. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/ archive/2024/07/generative-ai-music-suno-udio/679114/ Li Jin, “‘Pop Music Is a Promise That You Aren’t Listening Alone’: What AI Music Can and Can’t Do” https://variant.fund/articles/pop-music-ai-holly-herndonmat-dryhurst/ Melanie Mitchell, “Why AI is Harder Than We Think” https:// raw.githubusercontent.com/computationalmind/ computationalmind.github.io/main/speaker_slides/ Mitchell_WhyAIIsHarderThanWeThink.pdf
Articles Dorothy K. Stein, “Lady Lovelace’s Notes: Technical Text and Cultural Contex” , Victorian Studies, Vol. 28, No. 1 (1984), 33-67. https://www.jstor.org/stable/ 3826758 L.F. Menabrea, “Sketch of the Analytical Engine Invented by Charles Babbage”, Scientific Memoirs, 3 (1843), With notes upon the Memoir by the Translator Ada Augusta, Countess of Lovelace. 666-731. Margaret A. Boden, “Creativity and artificial intelligence”, Artificial Intelligence, Volume 103, Issues 1–2 (1998), 347-356,
Books Du Sautoy, The Creativity Code. Boden, Creativity and art (2010). Hofstadter, Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies: Computer Models Of The Fundamental Mechanisms Of Thought (2008).
Resources
The following resources were mentioned during the presentation or are useful additional information.
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Elon Musk’s 2013 predictions that didn’t happen
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Interview with Sam Altman at WSJ
In which he says creativity has been easier for AI than people thought.
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Plimpton 322
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Ada Lovelace’s notes with her translation
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Turing’s Vision book
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Proposal for summer project on AI
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Music video “Manon”, Jeugd van Tegenwoordig
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Peanut butter platform
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Interview with Mira Murati
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MIT Technology Review: Why Microsoft made a deal to help restart Three Mile Island
“A once-shuttered nuclear plant could soon return to the grid.”
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Google’s Search For AI-Enabling Secure Energy Goes Nuclear - Forbes
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Amazon signs agreements for innovative nuclear energy projects to address growing energy demands
