Dream Machine - AI and Creativity

James Finestone

Dream Machine is your front-row seat to hear in real time, how artificial intelligence is reshaping the creative world. We are here to reveal the exciting, sometimes unsettling ways AI intersects with art, culture and innovation. Through lively, thought provoking and often humorous conversations with artists, engineers, creative trailblazers, we explore how AI is challenging what it means to be creative. While AI can assist, collaborate, amplify and even provoke us, it’s our unique perspective, imagination and wit that keep the human creative flame alive.

Episodes

  1. Creative Friction, AI and Writing - Katy Gero

    28/06/2025

    Creative Friction, AI and Writing - Katy Gero

    Summary In this conversation, James Finestone and Katy Giro explore the evolving relationship between AI and writing. Katy shares her journey from mechanical engineering to her current research in human-computer interaction and creative writing. They discuss the potential of AI tools to enhance the writing process, the perceptions of writers towards these technologies, and the ethical implications surrounding ownership and authenticity in AI-generated content. The conversation also touches on the importance of community models in shaping the future of writing and the ongoing dialogue about the role of AI in creative practices. Takeaways Katy's journey from mechanical engineering to AI and writing highlights the interdisciplinary nature of modern creativity. AI tools can enhance the writing process by providing new perspectives and ideas. Writers' perceptions of AI tools vary widely, influencing how they integrate these technologies into their work. The collaboration between AI and human writers can lead to innovative creative practices. Ownership and authenticity in AI-generated content are complex issues that writers are grappling with. Community models can empower writers to take control of their creative processes in the age of AI. The future of writing will likely involve a blend of traditional practices and new AI technologies. AI can serve as a muse, pushing writers to explore new ideas and directions in their work. The literary community is actively discussing the ethical implications of AI in writing. Art and writing will continue to evolve, reflecting the changing dynamics of technology and creativity. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI and Creative Writing 01:41 From Engineering to Creative Exploration 05:25 The Intersection of Language and Machine Learning 08:34 Human-Computer Interaction: Bridging the Gap 11:12 Perceptions of AI in Writing 15:39 The Role of AI in Creative Writing 18:17 Collaboration vs. Solitude in Writing 22:58 Joy and Frustration in AI Engagement 27:01 Ownership and Authorship in AI Collaboration 29:38 Ethics and Ownership of AI Training Data 30:30 The Ethics of AI and Copyright 39:44 Community Models and Shared Creativity 46:21 The Future of Writing in the Age of AI 54:00 Authenticity and the Role of Art in AI Katy Gero Website https://www.katygero.com Ensemble Park https://www.ensemblepark.com Collects literary experiments in human-computer co-writing. Neither completely computer-generated nor absent of computational intervention, the works explore how machines may enter the literary process iteratively, and how literary artifacts may be changed by such iterations. Keywords AI, writing, language models, creative writing, collaboration, authenticity, ownership, community models, ethical AI, future of writing

    58 min
  2. Nicholas Christakis - From Fish Hooks to the Beach Boys, AI and Social Networks

    18/06/2025

    Nicholas Christakis - From Fish Hooks to the Beach Boys, AI and Social Networks

    In this conversation, Nicholas Christakis discusses the intricate relationship between social networks, human creativity, and the impact of AI on our collaborative efforts. He explores how our biology and social lives co-evolve, the nature of creativity, and the potential of AI to enhance human interaction and creativity. The discussion also touches on the historical context of human evolution in response to technological advancements and the future implications of AI in society. Nicholas Christakis: Human Nature Lab, Yale: https://humannaturelab.net Lecture at ETH, Social Artificial Intelligence: https://humannaturelab.net/public-lecture/eth-global-lecture-social-artificial-intelligence-2024 Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blueprint-Evolutionary-Origins-Good-Society/dp/0316230030

    1h 4m

  3. 13/04/2025

    Kevin Kelly — How to Be a Good Ancestor with AI

    Kevin Kelly—founding editor of Wired Magazine, futurist, and author of The Inevitable and Excellent Advice for Living—joins us to explore the strange and thrilling frontier where AI meets human creativity. In this episode, we explore: How AI is reshaping what it means to create Why working with machines might become the new creative norm Whether creativity is still a uniquely human trait The value of long-term thinking in a fast-changing world Why optimism is not naïve, but essential We also touch on dog-like AI companions, collaborative art, techno-ethics, and what it means to be a good ancestor in an age of accelerating intelligence. This is a wide-ranging conversation with one of the most original thinkers on technology and the future.

    37 min

  4. 02/02/2025

    What is Creativity Anyway? - Conversation with Professor Dustin Stokes

    In this episode of Dream Machine, I sit down with Professor Dustin Stokes, a philosopher from the University of Utah, whose work explores the fascinating connections between perception, imagination, and creativity. We navigate the philosophical dimensions of AI and creativity, asking questions that have been on my mind: Can machines truly imagine? What makes human creativity different from AI-generated ideas? And how do our beliefs and desires shape not just what we create but how we experience the world? We also discuss the role of imagination in scientific discovery, the ethical challenges of AI in creative spaces, and whether AI could ever fully challenge what it means to be an artist or human creator. This conversation really made me reflect on the evolving relationship between humans and AI in the creative process. If you are curious about the future of creativity in an increasingly AI-driven world, I think you will find this episode thought-provoking and inspiring.

    54 min

  5. 04/12/2024

    From the Horse's Mouth - Conversation with Chat GPT

    In this episode of Dream Machine, I engage in a thought-provoking conversation with ChatGPT around the intersection of artificial intelligence and creativity. We explore how AI has evolved from a tool for repetitive tasks to a genuine collaborator in creative fields, discussing its training processes, the nature of AI-generated creativity, and the biases inherent in AI systems. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of human-AI collaboration, the potential for new forms of artistic expression and the future implications of AI in the creative landscape.

    43 min

  6. 05/11/2024

    Art and AI - Luba Elliott

    Luba Elliott is a renowned curator, researcher, and consultant at the forefront of the AI-art movement, curating exhibitions and events around the world that explore how AI is creating new pathways for Artists. She’s worked with institutions like the Serpentine Galleries, the V&A, and the ART-AI Festival, Ars Electronica and CogX, and she’s frequently called on to speak at global events like NeurIPS. Luba’s work bridges the gap between tech and art, helping artists and technologists rethink creativity and authorship in the digital age. In our conversation, we’ll explore her perspective on AI’s evolving role in the art world. How does she see AI— as just a tool, or maybe as a true creative collaborator? We’ll talk about how artists are using AI in ways that would have been impossible just a few years ago and whether AI changes the emotional or personal connection in art. We discuss ethical challenges like copyright and data use, and we’ll look ahead to where she sees AI and artists heading in the next decade.  Throughout the discussion we mention some artists by name along with various AI technologies. For those that are interested I’ve added links on the show notes. Get ready for a fresh perspective on the exciting and sometimes challenging dynamics between AI and creativity! SAMPLE LIST OF ARTISTS THAT INCORPORATE OR COLLABORATE WITH AI: Refik Anodol https://refikanadol.com/ Sougwen Chung https://sougwen.com/ Mario Klingemann https://quasimondo.com/ Alexander Reben https://areben.com/ Scott Eaton https://www.scott-eaton.com/ Sofia Crespo https://sofiacrespo.com Stephanie Dinkins https://www.stephaniedinkins.com/ Ross Goodwin https://rossgoodwin.com/ Mimi Onuoha https://mimionuoha.com/ Mike Tyka https://www.miketyka.com/ Jake Elwes https://www.jakeelwes.com/ Taryn Southern https://aiartists.org/taryn-southern Memo Akten https://www.artsy.net/artist/memo-akten Linda Dounia https://www.artsy.net/artist/linda-dounia-1 Anna Ridler http://annaridler.com/bio Jenna Sutela https://www.artsy.net/artist/jenna-sutela Bobbie Barrat https://www.instagram.com/robbie.exe/ Beeple (Mike Winklemann) https://beeple-studios.xyz/faq/ Casey Reas https://reas.com/ James Bridle https://jamesbridle.com/works Kyle McDonald https://kylemcdonald.net/ David McLeod http://davidmcleod.com/ Roman Lipski https://www.romanlipski.com/quantum-blur Daniel Ambrosi https://www.danielambrosi.com/ Helena Sarin https://www.neuralbricolage.com/ Egor Kraft https://kraft.studio/ Gretchen Andrew https://www.gretchenandrew.com/ Adam Harvey https://adam.harvey.studio/ Shinseungback Kimyonghun https://ssbkyh.com/ Joanne Hastie https://joannehastie.com/en-gb Harm van den Dorpel https://harm.work/ Ben Snell http://bensnell.io/ Ai Da https://www.ai-darobot.com/

    42 min

  7. 05/11/2024

    Death of an Author - Stephen Marche

    Today we joined by Stephen Marche, author and cultural commentator, whose work pushes the boundaries of writing and creativity. Steven‘s latest experiments involve collaborating with AI. From his groundbreaking novella, Death of an Author, to exploring the future of creativity in both human and machine driven storytelling, we will explore how AI is not just a tool but a potential collaborator in the world of writing and discuss what this means for the future of human imaginationb and one of the most deeply human pursuits - writing.

    41 min

  8. 05/11/2024

    Introduction - Dream Machine: AI and Creativity

    “Dream Machine” is your front-row seat to hear in real-time how artificial intelligence is reshaping the creative world. We’re here to reveal the exciting, sometimes unsettling ways AI intersects with art, culture and innovation, Through lively, thought-provoking and often humorous conversations with artists, engineers and creative trailblazers, we explore how AI is reshaping what it means to be creative. While AI can assist, collaborate, amplify and even challenge us, it’s our unique perspective, imagination and wit that keep the human creative flame alive.

    1 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

Dream Machine is your front-row seat to hear in real time, how artificial intelligence is reshaping the creative world. We are here to reveal the exciting, sometimes unsettling ways AI intersects with art, culture and innovation. Through lively, thought provoking and often humorous conversations with artists, engineers, creative trailblazers, we explore how AI is challenging what it means to be creative. While AI can assist, collaborate, amplify and even provoke us, it’s our unique perspective, imagination and wit that keep the human creative flame alive.

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