It seems like every business these days is doing something involving AI. And for good reason – it has quickly become a very powerful tool! I personally find it to be immensely helpful with communication and software development. Where previously I would dread spending half an hour staring at a screen to draft a simple email, now I can simply prompt an AI, modify the output, and be done in minutes. What an incredible gift for someone who wrestles with social anxiety!
However, I’ve also noticed a great deal of fear and anger involving AI. A person’s self-perception / identity is often intimately tied to their job. So if I’m doing a job that’s replaced by AI, I might feel like I’m being replaced. That I’m no longer necessary or desired. This is an awful feeling indeed.
I see this happening a lot in the art world especially, where many are crying out in anger against AI being used to create images, videos, and music. Maybe it’s the inauthenticity of these works that are really objectionable. Is it really fair to an artist who has spent years honing their craft, that some random person can spend a few hours prompting an AI and produce something good enough to win a contest? This could be interpreted as a message that I, as a professional creator, am no longer valuable.
That said, I believe that there’s something special and altogether irreplaceable about being human. Even with AI being used to create all these amazing things, it still requires a human’s will to guide it. It still requires a human’s judgment to say whether or not the output is good. It still requires a human to enjoy the output (or be angry or sad or happy or… you get my point).
And this is what brings us to the crux of my vision for Paint By Motors – the essence of what it means to be human. The Human Element. My vision is for Paint By Motors to preserve the Human Element while also harmonizing it with technology and nature. That is, integrating the Human Element with the spiritual, physical, and virtual realms. But what on earth do I mean by this?
As an example, when I create a painting with ERAS, I, as a human, am accessing all three of these realms simultaneously: my hands are interacting with the physical controller, which then sends signals virtually to motors, computers, and The Cloud, all while being guided by my soul. The astounding thing to me about art is how much it can reveal about the spiritual realm. When I look at a rather abstract painting that I have made, I see things about myself of which I was previously unaware.
People have commented that paintings from ERAS look like Rorschach inkblots and this is somewhat apt. I, as a human, project my subconscious thoughts and emotions onto these pieces and thereby learn about myself. Those who have studied Jung’s work know that he claims that there are tremendous benefits in accessing one’s subconscious. I have found truth in this claim and hope to share these benefits with others via ERAS and Paint By Motors.
AI has become an invaluable partner in the development of Paint By Motors, enabling us to accomplish tasks that would have otherwise been out of reach, both financially and technically. It’s like having a senior developer on our team, handling complex challenges with ease. For example, AI helps us navigate intricate processes like video streaming, ensuring that our users can interact seamlessly with ERAS from anywhere in the world. It also assists with key components like user authentication and the development of immersive apps that connect ERAS with our backend software. By doing the heavy lifting on these tasks, AI allows us to focus on the bigger picture—crafting an experience that blends creativity, technology, and human expression.
As we move forward in this era of rapid technological advancements, we must not lose sight of what makes us uniquely human. While AI offers us unprecedented tools to enhance creativity and efficiency, it is the human soul that brings true meaning to any creation. ERAS, as a tool, doesn’t replace the artist; it amplifies the connection between the artist’s inner world and their outer expression, giving us a new way to explore our subconscious and, ultimately, ourselves. My aim is to preserve and celebrate the Human Element in a way that transcends the boundaries of art, technology, and the soul.