AI as an Accelerant, Not a Competitor
The conversation around AI usually circles the same topics: is it a tool, collaborator, or competitor? But honestly, none of those feel like a proper description. The more I use AI in my design process, the more I see it as something different, an accelerant. AI doesn’t replace creativity, and it definitely doesn’t compete with it. Instead, it speeds up the messy early stages so designers can spend more time on the more important parts.
The Future of Storytelling article talks about the way AI can quickly generate alternate storylines, visuals, and ideas. And he’s right, AI is amazing at opening up possibilities fast. It gives you more directions to react to, more “what-ifs,” and more starting points. But those ideas still need a human to choose the one that feels the most meaningful. AI doesn’t understand tone, intention, or emotion, we need humans for that!
But speeding things up isn’t automatically a good thing. The Kaptur article on ethics points out how AI also accelerates the risks such as bias, plagiarism, and unclear ownership. If the dataset is flawed, the work it produces is flawed too, which happens instantly. So while AI can boost creativity, it can also amplify harm just as quickly if we’re not paying attention. This is where our judgment becomes essential.
That’s why I don’t see AI as a competitor, as competitors create original ideas where AI doesn’t. Instead, it remixes what it’s been trained on, which is exactly why we need designers.
Adam Fard explains how AI tools for visual storytelling makes it clear that AI is strongest in the exploration phase. It helps with brainstorming, ideating, generating variations, which can free designers up to focus on emotion, intention, and craft instead.
Thinking of AI as an accelerant, acknowledges the speed and the power, but also the responsibility. Designers still make the final decisions to properly apply ethics, storytelling, and feeling. We set the tone, the pacing, and the meaning. AI just helps us get to those moments faster.
Hey, I’m Ashley!
I am a graphic & interactive designer passionate about creating purposeful, fun, and engaging design. Whether it’s a brand identity, a responsive website, or a social media campaign, I love connecting ideas with strategy to make work that’s not only beautiful, but effective.
