Creativity cannot be computed

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

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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

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= ~ 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

COS 2 . 0 EVENTS CT4 0 2 02 5 RSH RIS’ BUY T H E M TICKETS NLY £ 1 0 0 ! WOW ONLY £ 1 0 0 ! WOW SPONSORS frankly. OCT 08:45 B U Y A TICKET 5 O u r Amal £100! WOW ONLY £100! WOW ONL2I0 2 4 Became 2004 INFO 09 :0 0 09:15 pry we snuud embrace it) y Desroches D Mindful Design Krystal A B O U T CO s i t e To End All Websites 10:00

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).