11th March 2024

3min read

The discussion around AI has got me thinking about the value of originality.

Firstly, originality doesn’t have to mean something that has never been done before, because that can be a tall order these days. Originality can just mean offering a new perspective. Generative AI doesn’t truly offer a new perspective, it just mashes together other peoples’ work and calls it a day, and I think that’s why AI art feels so empty and soulless to me, it’s that lack of human intention. Not to mention the obvious breaches of copyright, I’m looking forward to the results of the lawsuits on that one. For what it’s worth, my opinion is the fact they’re even having this conversation about whether it’s a breach of copyright or not means it probably is. But anyway, that’s a different topic for the legal experts. Back to originality…

I notice the same lack of originality in the social media world of photography by actual real photographers, not just AI. Many photographers try to imitate the work of others, chasing what’s trendy and popular, but always somehow fall short, and as a result they (and we) are robbed of seeing what the artist can truly do for themselves. I want to see a flavour of how they look at the world, where they live, what they like. Some might argue “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”, but people often forget the second half of that Oscar Wilde quote… “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can give to greatness”.

It’s good news for those who are inherently creative, they are continuously innovating and levelling up, a process that often involves a cycle of failures until they strike gold. Originality is lost by those who place higher value on chasing fast results for fear of failure, instead of a willingness to test out ideas for themselves. It is in failure that original ideas are born. The finished work you see is not what makes a creator successful, it’s everything that’s happening behind the scenes. Their work is driven by their unique perspective and innovation, and that’s not something that can be copied. As a result, those who rely on imitation will always find themselves 10 steps behind.

Let’s talk about the subtext of originality in creativity and why we celebrate it, and contrast what being unoriginal says about the entity behind the content. It takes guts and confidence to be original and put yourself out there as a creator, requiring total conviction in an idea and an acceptance that despite how much you might believe in it, it might not go as well as you hoped. An imitator then, by contrast, lacks the confidence in their own work or talents, and that insecurity puts any creativity they do have in a cage. Imitating those who they perceive as more successful than themselves might, for example, get them that popular Instagram account they crave, but they will always have that gnawing feeling of being a fraud. Something to keep in mind next time you see an account posting a photograph blatantly created with AI.

People who go out of their way to copy another’s art, photography, content, products, whatever it may be, are basically just a walking talking AI engine regurgitating what’s already out there. So with AI inadvertently pushing up the value of originality they will need to up their game or risk falling behind. Creators, on the other hand, naturally possess the secret weapon they need to succeed. 

Finally, if you as an original creator find your ideas being copied, take it as a compliment! That means the copycat “creator” thinks you’re doing something right.

Remember, true innovation leads to genuine success.

Viva la originality!