The Next AI Adoption Gap Is Not Access—It Is Agency
Summary
Artificial intelligence has never been easier to access. Anyone can open a chatbot, generate an image or experiment with video in a matter of minutes. Yet access to a tool does not necessarily give someone the confidence, context or judgment to use it meaningfully. For independent composer, songwriter and interdisciplinary artist Cong Liu, this is becoming one of the most important questions in AI adoption: once the technology is available, who is actually able to turn it into a form of expression, communication or participation? Liu's perspective developed through an unusual path. His doctoral work explored how visual information could be translated into sound, mapping qualities such as hue, brightness and saturation onto pitch, timbre and dynamics. Generative AI later let him run that process in reverse—turning sound, language, emotion and imagination into images, animation and visual narratives. He has since brought that approach into public AI education. In an introductory workshop organized through Asian Media Access, the Asian American Business Resilience Network and Digital Synergy, Liu showed participants how to move from an idea, a piece of music or a written narrative into AI-generated imagery, animation and music videos. He later served as a guest instructor in an advanced AI/VR and digital-experience cohort organized by Asian Media Access, helping participants connect generative media with sound, storytelling, immersive design and audience experience. His work has also extended into multilingual public communication and an upcoming conference discussion on generative AI and mental wellness.
Key takeaway
For creative technologists designing AI tools or educational programs, prioritize fostering user agency over mere access. Your focus should be on empowering individuals to make intentional choices, evaluate outputs critically, and integrate AI into their unique creative processes. This approach ensures users develop confidence and judgment, transforming simple generation into meaningful expression and participation, especially for non-technical audiences.
Key insights
True AI adoption hinges on user agency, enabling meaningful creation and judgment beyond simple tool access.
Principles
- Perception is not universal; AI can offer new channels for expression.
- AI adoption is often a confidence challenge before it is technical.
- Generation is fast; meaningful creation still requires human judgment.
Method
Start with a personal idea, music, or story; develop it into a prompt; then generate, select, edit, and revise AI media for meaningful output.
In practice
- Use AI to translate emotions into visual metaphors.
- Apply AI for multilingual public health communication.
- Employ AI to support creative expression in non-verbal individuals.
Topics
- AI Agency
- Generative AI
- Creative Expression
- AI Education
- Multimodal Perception
- Human Judgment
Best for: Creative Technologist, AI Student, Consultant
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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by The AI Journal.