Unpacking the Myth of Human Exceptionalism in Creativity

Derek Johnson
3 min readApr 1, 2023
Photo by Sharon Pittaway on Unsplash

Whether humans and AI are equally creative has been the subject of much debate in recent years. On the one hand, many people believe that humans are far more creative than AI, citing the ability of humans to generate truly original ideas and insights. On the other hand, some argue that AI can also be highly creative and that the output generated by large language models can be novel and meaningful.

So what is the truth? Are humans more creative than AI, or is AI just as capable of generating original and meaningful works?
To answer this question, it’s essential to first understand the nature of creativity itself. Creativity can be defined as the ability to produce something new and valuable. This can take many forms, from music and art to scientific discoveries and technological innovations. However, at its core, creativity is about generating new ideas or insights that challenge and expand our understanding of the world.

When it comes to whether humans are more creative than AI, it’s essential to recognize that much of human creativity is based on the accumulation and transmission of information over time. This means that while humans may generate original ideas and insights, their creativity is also shaped by their experiences, culture, and the concepts they have been exposed to. In other words…

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Derek Johnson

Philosopher | AI Engineering | Formally @ Apple & Amazon