A.I. & Ghibli: Technology Isn't The Problem; We Are.

I was shopping for a new pair of shoes. I had somehow, again, bore a hole into the heel of my left shoe. I do love walking, but how do I burn rubber this fast? My thoughts wandered, as they always do, meandering the aisles.

As I perused $600 dress shoes and worked my way down to the $15 foam sandals (though I have seen similar ones go for $800) my thoughts landed on the A.I./Ghibli news that has dominated the internet as of late.

To start, I have never been shy about my support and use of A.I. as a creative tool in film editing and making, but I have always outlined and maintained my attempt at ethical use; using voice actors and hired musicians to create a hybrid, "best of all worlds" while ensuring I only use vetted, ethical A.I. (as a side note, I never use A.I. for writing, though I have used it for proof reading and feedback, which is quite stunning)

"Nothing can replace pure human talent. A.I. is a tool that enhances and democratizes creativity but doesn't replace it."

An A.I. generated image, ethically sourced, for my project Bomboncita © This image is what I would then convert into video/animation.

With that said, the A.I./Ghibli situation is a unique one. Imitation is a form of flattery, they say, something that countless authors, musicians, and painters have done throughout history, but when does imitation fall into plagiarism?

Nothing can replace pure human talent. A.I. is a tool that enhances and democratizes creativity but doesn't replace it. We have crossed a unique threshold, however: A.I. has gotten so advanced, so good, that we are now able to discern "bad" A.I. creations with "good" ones.

A.I. is still in its infancy, but it is starting to carve out a niche that should be measured against itself, not compared to others; it should be celebrated on its own terms, not viewed as a threat compared to others.

Plagiarism and shortcuts have existed long before A.I. tools. People who have sought to rush to the top of the mountain by means of stealing the research, jokes, inventions, and art of others has existed since the dawn of civilization. Yes, A.I. has made it easier. But A.I. doesn't choose how it is used.

We do.

People who have been using shortcuts and cheating for two thousand years are the same people who will use A.I. for that without disclosure. Such is life.

Karma will come for them.

A.I. can enhance art, not replace it. You still need someone with eyes for visual storytelling, editing, and writing. "Bad" A.I. will be missing all those.

"Good" A.I. has a human touch, and is a tangible, measurable talent.

An A.I. generated image, ethically sourced, for my project Bomboncita © A test when asked to convert a character from my book into a Pixar-esque character.

Ghibli and "A.I. Ghibli" can't be compared to one another, but A.I. Ghibli creations can be compared to other A.I. Ghibli creations, and there lies the true analysis of talent, art, and creativity: How Ghibli does it look? Is the idea unique and creative? Is the editing clean and the story bold?

People went about it the wrong way. Ghibli is the gold standard. The peak. A.I. creations should be celebrated, compared to one another, and then the question asked, "But which one is the most Ghibli in spirit?"

The difference is that A.I. gives opportunity to a 16-year-old girl somewhere in Africa who would never have the chance otherwise to showcase their imagination. They might just show the world they have the mind of the next Miyazaki.

But I digress.

I still need new shoes.