Keeping Creation Authentic in The Age of The Averaging Machine

​AI excels at producing work that meets expectations and follows proven patterns—qualities that can both support and constrain creative expression. When powerful tools can generate polished content from simple prompts, we face new questions about how creative skills develop and where human judgment becomes most valuable. We'll explore the concept of productive friction: the deliberate challenges, constraints, and struggles that build creative judgment over time. Through examination of how artists, writers, and designers are navigating AI-assisted workflows, we'll discuss practical approaches for preserving the resistance that develops genuine taste and original thinking. The session will cover strategies for distinguishing between automating routine tasks and maintaining the creative processes that build lasting expertise. As AI democratizes content creation, understanding how to cultivate distinctly human creative capabilities becomes essential for anyone seeking to produce work that resonates beyond algorithmic optimization.