'We're creatives - this is what AI has done to our jobs'

BBCArtificial intelligence can generate lifelike images and video, as well as writing that appears human.But according to researchers, more than two-thirds of workers in the creative industries believe AI has undermined their job security.Half of novelists worry AI could replace them.What are the experiences of an artist, videographer, musician and a copywriter?"I really hate AI," says Aisha Belarbi, a 22-year-old Norwich-based "furry artist"."It really goes against everything that I do."She creates furry art — animals with human characteristics — using traditional and digital methods, like a tablet computer.Generative AI, which uses text prompts to create images, video and music, hadn't been a concern because she "thought it was just rubbish".Now, as its output improves, things are different."I'm starting to worry because it is getting to a point where I can't really decipher what is AI art and what's not."And a lot of people who aren't artists, they really can't tell. That's what I think is the most scary thing."She has stopped relying on commissions for her main source of income because "people can just generate whatever they want".Instead, to try to earn a living she's diversified into writing books about how to draw."This is my livelihood at stake, and a lot of other people's livelihoods," she adds.She fears younger artists may feel "really discouraged", especially those working in digital media.Cheaper and fasterFor her, art is about "people's life experiences" and "the amount of hours and energy it takes to create something great", rather than "something you generate with a prompt".But JP Allard, 67, believes if Renaissance artist Michaelangelo were alive "he'd be dabbling in AI right now".Mr Allard ran a traditional commercial video agency in Milton Keynes until about a year ago when he was unwell and off work for two weeks.He says he "watched every YouTube video I could", saw AI's potential and decided the company "had to make the jump"."It was such a prize to actually get on to this new wave," he says.His business, MirrorMe, now uses AI to create "digital twins" — video likenesses — for clients that can represent their businesses in "175 languages", as well as AI-generated adverts.Mr Allard recalls having "staffing issues" with "a couple" of his team members who resisted the changes and no longer work for him."The problem is the velocity of change," he adds."In the past, we had five or six years to take typewriters out and replace them with word processors and PCs."Now it's happening in months."He says not enough retraining is happening, which is something "the politicians have to think about".MirrorMe's product, he says, replaces "every form of corporate media, without a lot of the production overheads, the filming, the post production", and is much cheaper and faster than traditional videography.He insists "it's authentic, it's got heart, it's got emotion"."There are always going to be Luddites, cynics, and there are plenty of examples of bad AI, but it's just a tool, and in the right artistic hands I think it can be convincing." Read more here: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8e9627w156o

'We're creatives - this is what AI has done to our jobs'

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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'We're creatives - this is what AI has done to our jobs'

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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