As we navigate the next disruptive phase of AI, Generative AI stands at the forefront of a creative revolution that can be likened to the advent of photography or celluloid film. This technology is rapidly redefining what we perceive as work and creativity, particularly in the fields of design and CX/UX.
To understand the implications of this AI-driven transformation, I really reccomend Pinar Seyhan Demirdag’s LinkedIn Learning course on generative AI. As an AI expert, Demirdag dives into the heart of generative AI, its history, its inner workings, and its potential future. She paints a fascinating picture of how AI could enhance our creative pursuits and revolutionize our work processes.
Generative AI can generate new content from a dataset, autonomously crafting everything from text to music and visual effects. It is akin to a 24/7 assistant, a manifestation of our vision and creativity in near real-time. Generative AI has made significant strides since the advent of auto encoder neural networks in 2006, with models like DALL-E and ChatGPT becoming game-changers in a variety of industries.
Pinar positions generative AI not as a threat to human creativity, but as an ally. By taking over repetitive tasks and complex computations, generative AI allows us to focus on more strategic, creative activities. It empowers us to leverage our unique human traits—our curiosity, emotional intelligence, and dreams—to explore the true meaning of work.
Below MidJourney Prompt “a photo shoot of the courses for a gourmet restaurant with delicious meals and courses shown on a rustic table” seems incredible when compared to the effort to create this real life photo shoot. It would seem the model is very well trained on food and meals from my usage.
Designers have traditionally acted as the bridge between the complex, abstract world of ideas and their tangible representation. With generative AI now in the picture, it might seem like the very essence of the designer’s role is under threat. But, contrary to popular belief, AI is not here to replace designers. Instead, it’s a tool that designers can use to augment their work, enhance their creativity, and drive innovative solutions.
But where does this leave designers and CX/UX professionals?
In the realm of customer experience (CX) and user experience (UX), generative AI can help in designing highly personalized interfaces and solutions. It can generate new design variations, anticipate user needs, and offer custom-tailored experiences based on individual user data. Essentially, generative AI can help CX/UX professionals create experiences that are not only more engaging and satisfying but also highly efficient and intuitive.
So, how can one dip their toes into this burgeoning field?
Pinar’s course suggests three possible roles: the business leader, the creative technologist, and the non-technical user. Each of these roles has different degrees of interaction with generative AI, depending on their technical prowess. They can choose from a myriad of generative AI models available, or even use paid services like Midjourney or Lensa. They can select from repositories like GitHub, use AI notebooks like Google Colab, or resort to ready-to-use apps that simplify the process.
Regardless of your role and level of technical expertise, it’s clear that generative AI has something to offer everyone, particularly in design and CX/UX. It’s an exciting time to be in these fields, with the promise of AI unlocking new horizons for creativity and strategic thinking.
Demirdag’s course, “What is Generative AI?” is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in understanding this cutting-edge technology. While this provides a succinct summary, I strongly encourage business leaders and professionals to dive into the full course, it will probably take 30 mins and is available on Linked in Learning, and there is a further path of courses also setup by Linked In / Microsoft.
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/paths/career-essentials-in-generative-ai-by-microsoft-and-linkedin
Not Convinced? Have a look at Fiverr.com and see the amazing previews of Creatives already using MidJourney to turbo charge their outputs and creative services.
https://www.fiverr.com/search/gigs?query=midjourney%20ai
