The last few years are characterised by the rise of AI, and its impact is felt among various human industries, especially within creative fields. Generative AI is criticised by many for allegedly replacing human jobs. Quite notably, discussions have arisen on AI art and its ability to replace artists, making AI as a means for creativity a rather controversial issue. During this evening, we will explore how generative AI can enhance and support human creativity rather than replace it. We’ll highlight both successful applications and challenges within the creative industries, addressing ethical dilemmas and sustainability issues. Additionally, the evening aims to identify essential regulations, strategies, and standards that creatives and policymakers must develop collaboratively to navigate the future responsibly and effectively.
About the speakers
Tessa Mei Duzee is an experienced lecturer and researcher in digital technology and ethics at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. In recent years, she developed the Ethical Toolkit, featuring innovative teaching methods on the ethics of digital platforms. Her work is driven by a strong interest in questions surrounding artificial intelligence, particularly what is legally permissible and what is ethically desirable. She is currently developing an online course for professionals in the creative industry focused on generative AI, ethics, and the law.
Harm Hofmans is Head of Education and Program Developer at MU Hybrid Art House, Harm Hofmans shapes exhibitions and learning experiences that blur the boundaries between art, technology, and everyday life. With a global network of creative thinkers, MU invites visitors to imagine the future through the tools we’re creating today. He’s fascinated by human hubris—especially in the face of rapid technological advancements and the (re)discovery of other forms of intelligence. Most recently, in Poetics of Prompting—an exhibition developed with The Hmm—MU explored what it means to write with machines rather than as machines. The project is -among other things- about reclaiming creativity in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms. As an art educator, marketeer, speculative thinker, and—occasionally—flâneur or philosopher, Hofmans wanders through uncanny valleys, explores the overlooked corners of popular culture, and finds joy in declaring all science fiction.
Joao Loupatty is a visual storyteller and lecturer Data, Science & Technology at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. After graduating from Communication and Multimedia Design, he started his masters Data Driven Design, which kickstarted his interest in AI and all the ethics surrounding it. During his extracurricular projects, he worked on the X=festival team and helped create the HU Green Office. His Moluccan heritage is a big inspiration for him, and he loves combining it with new technologies like AI and 3D animation to create futurist works that explore his culture and question colonial views.
About the moderator
Mark van der Gun is a philosopher specialised in artificial intelligence and a lecturer at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, where he teaches in the Smart Media Production program. He helps students create media using AI and smart technologies, with a strong focus on the ethical side. Mark sees a lot of opportunities in AI, but also warns against potential risks – e.g., oppression and (power) inequality. He emphasises the importance of critical thinking: “Is AI truly needed here, or might I (still) be better off doing this myself?”
