Pluralistic: The tedious power of storytelling (02 Jun 2026) must-we-pretend

2021-01-29 · Source: Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Intermediate, long

Summary

Cory Doctorow explores Brian Eno's theory of art, defining it as "everything you don't have to do" and, more precisely, as something "intended to make other people feel something," differentiating it from natural beauty. The article contends that AI-generated content, despite its apparent coherence, lacks inherent intent, thereby diluting the original human intent from prompts. This prompts audiences to "hallucinate" an intender, a phenomenon likened to historical "disenchantment" where natural occurrences were once ascribed divine purpose. Doctorow uses Disney theme park rides, specifically Snow White's Enchanted Wish (1955) and The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure (2011), to demonstrate how implicit evocation can achieve high emotional intensity, while explicit narrative retelling, though high-fidelity, often results in lower intensity. Ultimately, art's value is measured by its capacity to excite, paralleling science's reliance on falsifiability.

Key takeaway

For creative technologists evaluating AI-generated content, recognize that AI's statistical predictions dilute human intent, making raw outputs less emotionally resonant. If your goal is profound emotional impact, you should prioritize human curation and "brushstrokes" to infuse genuine intent. Relying solely on AI for "art" risks producing works that are high-fidelity but low-intensity, failing to truly excite or communicate deep feeling. Focus on using AI as a tool for striking elements, then refine them with your own explicit purpose.

Key insights

Art requires human intent to evoke feeling; AI dilutes this, leading to perceived but absent meaning.

Principles

• Art's purpose is to evoke feeling.
• "Excitement" validates art, like "falsifiability" validates science.
• Implicit communication intensifies feeling.

In practice

• Assess AI art for diluted intent.
• Prioritize implicit emotional evocation.
• Value art by its capacity to excite.

Topics

• Art Theory
• Artificial Intelligence
• Creative Intent
• Emotional Resonance
• Narrative Storytelling
• Brian Eno

Best for: AI Product Manager, Product Manager, AI Ethicist, Creative Technologist, General Interest

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow.