Düsseldorfs Kreativszene experimentiert mit KI. Vor allem im Design lassen sich damit komplett neue Welten entwickeln, wie etwa diese Bildkomposition von Eli Alaimo Di Loro.

Creative writing with ChatGPT, surreal visual worlds with Dall-E, campaigns with MidJourney - in a matter of seconds, artificial intelligence can be used to create works that go beyond our imagination. And in which designers, architects or musicians have so far invested a lot of time and experience. Is AI a curse or a blessing for the creative industries? "I am convinced that my profession will become much more creative in the near future," says Alexandros Michalakopoulos, designer and co-founder of the Düsseldorf agency Morphoria. So far, AI has been a kind of playground for designers to experiment and push the boundaries. By using AI tools for routine tasks, he can focus more on the creative process. At advertising agency Jung von Matt, AI also frees up time for conceptual work and solving client problems. "We are currently experiencing a next level of automation that is creating more space for creative thinking," says Chief Innovation Officer Max Lederer, "Artificial intelligence will become a natural part of the work process for creatives, simply another tool." Even if the results of AI in text and image design are currently surprising, the "typical mid-journey aesthetic" will eventually become commonplace. "People want to be surprised, and that requires creativity that stands out from the crowd," says Lederer.

Even if AI is supposed to do everything, in the end it is people who make the difference. You need curious creatives who are open to technological developments and who play with the new tools. Eli Alaimo Di Loro, for example, has already used AI programmes to design logos, visualise concepts and create Valentine's cards for robots. "In all the experiments, the designer has to intervene at some point, because AI alone doesn't produce a really useful result," concludes Eli. AI means a loss of control over certain design parameters, he says: A reason why it is (still) rarely used in client projects, but mostly in independent work. In addition, it is currently unclear who owns the copyright to the images when working with AI tools, as the algorithms are fed with images from the internet.

A Valentine's card for robots - by robots. AI can raise design to a new, creative meta-level.

AI is revolutionising processes not only in design and advertising, but also in architecture. "AI-based tools significantly increase efficiency. Image-generating AI creates sketches that look almost realistic. Floor plans can be edited effortlessly. At the same time, the focus is on quality assurance of the results," says architect Anna Wollenberg. Building culture is currently undergoing a radical change, in which AI can help to conserve resources and develop CO2-reducing concepts. Düsseldorf-based Nidus is already using AI to visualise designs, simulate and optimise energy efficiency, and monitor construction. "But there is still a lot of potential here. It will be interesting when there are programmes that cleverly combine AI and human intuition," says Nidus founder Annelen Schmidt-Vollenbroich. For Tina Jokisch, managing director of architects Schwitze & Partner, the technology is still in its infancy: "First visualisations with Midjourney show that the result, which is achieved in a matter of seconds, is impressive at first glance, but on closer inspection it is very superficial and not really convincing," says Jokisch, adding: "Nothing new is created, just a summary of what has already been done. We develop a unique selling proposition for each client. AI can't spit that out yet." However, the creative sees pragmatically that we are at the beginning of major disruptions: "AI tools will soon be taken for granted, not only in the creative process, but in all areas of life. Their use will no longer be a free choice."

“But there is still a lot of potential here. It will be Interesting when there are programmes that cleverly combine AI and Human Intuition.”

Volker Bertelmann | composer and musician | Hauschka

AI and music

As a composer, how do you see AI?

I'm not experimenting with AI and I don't see how AI could relieve or inspire me at the moment. My music is in many ways too handmade to be produced by an AI. I'm very open to new technologies, but the influence of an AI on my creative process doesn't make sense at the moment.

How will AI affect the music industry?

AI certainly fits in with the development of music streaming and easy music consumption. Hits are already being produced with AI, but unfortunately the part that makes music is being lost: the personal experience between the artist and the fans. I don't know if we just want to have retort art. We are quite capable of making our own decisions in spite of AI, and even consciously choosing not to use AI here and there.

Looking ahead, what do you hope for in the music of the future?

As long as I can make music, I would like to show younger people that handmade, experimental music that comes from a human idea has a very special quality of its own. That doesn't mean that AI-generated music can't exist in parallel.

KI and Art

Alain Bieber | Artistic Director| NRW-Forum Düsseldorf

Can AI make art?

More and more artists are working with AI to create spectacular works. We recently exhibited the monumental data sculptures of the artist Refik Anadol at the Kunstpalast - all works were created using AI. Visitors are very interested in these topics, and that's why the accompanying events and workshops are so important.

What sectors will AI change?

AI will change all sectors. It's already in so many devices, software and websites that we use every day. People are still using AI mainly as a tool, mostly in human-machine interactions. Ar-tists are inspired to let AI compose, write or create new visual worlds.

Will AI conquer our museums?

In museums, we will soon see more exhibitions curated by an AI. We will see more artworks not created by humans. And perhaps we will soon experience a technological singularity in which an AI creates its own museum - for artworks by other AIs, which will then only be visited by AIs. But this museum will not replace the classic museum as a social place where real people meet and exchange ideas about cultural content. •

Words: Karolina Landowski
Pictures: PR, Eli Alaimo Di Loro, Morphoria, Volker Conradus, Eli Alaimo Di Loro, Hannes Caspar, Katja Illner

Art Direction: AI?

AI and music

KI and Art