Why AI can benefit creators as an ally - but never replace them | Julian Ahlquist & Dominic de Souza
Two trained artists sit down to talk about where people misunderstand AI, and how creators could learn to use this tool. AI makes creativity more accessible to everyone—especially those who can’t afford to hire real artists. At Legend Fiction, we're building an open haven for creators to push our limits, using generative AI to amplify creativity—not replace it. We prioritize artists, and generative AI has its place.
Dominic de Souza, founder of LegendFiction, chats with Julian Ahlquist from Chesterton Academy, to talk about creators and AI. The most important part: we want open discussion on how to adapt with AI, not avoid it. And definitely not to put down people who's opinions differ from our own. See the LegendFiction statement on generative AI at https://legendfiction.com/ai
You can read the notes from this conversation here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/legendf...
Let's Use AI For 'The Glory of God': Priest & Teacher Unite to Make Beautiful Saint Images with AI Technology: https://www.churchpop.com/lets-use-ai...
HIGHLIGHTS
1. Why Legend Fiction Was Started: The community was made for people who love to write and create without being told what they can or can’t do. They also started talking about using AI, like ChatGPT and AI art, to help with creativity.
2. Understanding AI: Some people think using AI is bad, but the speakers believe it’s not always wrong. It can be used in a good way if you’re careful.
3. How AI Helps with Art: AI can help create images, like pictures of saints. Tools like MidJourney can make cool art, even though it sometimes needs some human help to get it right.
4. Is AI Art Really Art?: People argue about whether AI art is “real art.” They believe AI can help artists but shouldn’t take their place. Good art should make us more creative, while bad art doesn’t help anyone.
5. Feedback: They talk about what people have said about AI art. Some people don’t like it, especially online, but the speakers think AI art can be useful if used the right way.
6. Different Kinds of Art: They talk about how there’s a difference between art made for fun or to sell and art made for serious purposes, like in a church. AI art can be useful, but maybe not for something as special as religious art.
7. Why Human Creativity Still Matters: Human-created art is still very important, especially in things like churches, and AI can help, but it can’t replace real artists completely.
8. Adapting to New Tools: Just like how people in the past had to get used to new technology like cameras, artists today need to learn how to use tools like AI.
9. The Good and Bad of AI Art: Sometimes AI doesn’t make perfect images and people have to fix them, but it’s still a good way to help people make art when they don’t have much money.
10. Keeping Traditional Art Skills Alive: Even though AI can help make art, it’s still important to learn how to create real art by hand, which helps us appreciate all kinds of art more.
11. What’s Next for AI Art?: We wonder how AI will grow and how artists can use it to make their work even better instead of being afraid of it.
12. Legend Fiction’s Thoughts on AI: They end by talking about how their community, Legend Fiction, is open to using AI in a responsible way to help people be more creative, while also making sure that artists are valued.
ABOUT JULIAN AHLQUIST | http://thomism.org/
Mr. Ahlquist is a founding faculty member of Chesterton Academy and played a major role in developing the school’s curriculum in the areas of philosophy, theology, history, literature, and psychology (which has been used as a template for the curriculum of subsequent other schools). He graduated magna cum laude from Christendom College with a double major in Philosophy and Theology. In addition to having been in many theatrical productions and independent films, he has taken part in dramatic productions on EWTN, including G.K. Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense and The Quest for Shakespeare. He has also worked as a personal assistant and film editor to Ronald Maxwell (Director of the Hollywood films Gettysburg and Gods and Generals). As a side-project, he also manages www.thomism.org (a website dedicated to the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas).
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