Panelists:
Dokyun “DK” Lee, Kelli Questrom Chair Associate Professor in Information Systems and Computing & Data Science, Questrom School of Business, Boston University
Matthew Groh, Assistant Professor of Management and Organizations, Kellogg School of Management, Assistant Professor in Computer Science, McCormick School of Engineering (Courtesy), Northwestern University
Moderator and Host:
Morgan Frank, Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Information, University of Pittsburgh
Youngjin Yoo, Elizabeth M. and William C. Treuhaft Professor in Entrepreneurship, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University | Faculty Co-director, xLab
On Tuesday, February 25, our team at Open Skill Genome Project—a collaboration between Case Western Reserve University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Digital Credentials Consortium (DCC) at MIT, with support from the Walmart Foundation—hosted a webinar exploring the impact of generative AI on creativity and creative work. As part of our mission to build an open, verifiable credential ecosystem powered by AI and blockchain, we also share cutting-edge research on AI’s influence on skills, the labor market, and the future of work. This session focused on how AI is transforming creative workflows and the broader implications for innovation.
Expert Insights on Generative AI and Creativity
Morgan Frank, Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and co-principal investigator of the project, moderated the session. He led a discussion with two distinguished speakers: Dokyun (DK) Lee, Kelli Questrom Chair Associate Professor at Boston University, and Matthew Groh, Assistant Professor at Northwestern University. Both experts brought unique perspectives on how AI influences creative processes, from the way artists and designers integrate AI tools into their work to how the public perceives AI-generated content.
AI’s Role in Expanding Human Creativity
Prof. DK Lee presented research on how AI-assisted creators push the boundaries of the creative frontier. His findings suggest that while AI-generated content initially lacks novelty, once widely adopted, AI tools help artists generate more unique and conceptually expansive works. His study tracked a shift from early “masterminds” who pioneered AI creativity to a “hive mind” effect, where a broader community of users contributes to expanding the creative space. The research highlights AI’s role in augmenting human creativity rather than replacing it, showing that artists who integrate AI tools tend to explore new conceptual territories more than those who don’t.
The Impact of AI on Perception and Creativity
Prof. Matthew Groh’s work explores the human side of AI-generated content—how audiences interpret and respond to AI-created work. He shared insights from a recent study on photorealism in AI-generated images, demonstrating that while AI can produce highly realistic visuals, human curation remains essential to selecting and refining the best outputs. He also discussed AI’s role in communication and empathy, revealing that AI-generated responses can appear more empathetic than human responses, but their perceived authenticity diminishes once people know they were created by AI.
The Future of AI and Creative Work
The discussion raised important questions about the evolving role of AI in creative fields. Some key takeaways include:
AI as a creative partner: Rather than replacing human creativity, AI serves as an augmentation tool that enhances ideation and expands creative possibilities.
Human curation is key: While AI-generated content can be highly effective, human oversight ensures quality, coherence, and emotional depth.
The role of expertise and training: Learning how to effectively interact with AI tools is becoming a valuable skill in creative industries.
Ethical and legal considerations: Questions about ownership, originality, and authenticity remain critical as AI-generated content becomes more prevalent.
Looking Ahead: AI, Skills, and the Future of Education
AI is transforming both work and education, redefining how we develop skills and navigate careers. Join us for our next webinar, AI, Skills, and the Future of Education: Preparing Learners and Workers for a Changing World, on Wednesday, March 26 at 12pm ET. This session will feature:
Yong-Yeol “YY” Ahn, Professor at Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, Indiana University Bloomington
Renzhe Yu, Assistant Professor of Learning Analytics and Educational Data Mining at Teachers College, Columbia University
Moderated by Prof. Morgan Frank, the panel will discuss how AI is transforming education and the workforce, moving beyond rigid classification systems to better map skills, predict career trajectories, and enhance learning. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in a thought-provoking conversation on the future of education and work.
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