An art-science perspective on artificial intelligence creativity: From problem finding to materiality and embodied cognition

Current large language models, image generators and discovery engines fuel fears that artificial intelligence systems will replace human-driven creativity. However, analysing AI systems from the perspective of creative process reveals significant limitations. Human creativity begins with finding or...

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Main Author: Robert Root-Bernstein
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of Creativity
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2713374525000044
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author Robert Root-Bernstein
author_facet Robert Root-Bernstein
author_sort Robert Root-Bernstein
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description Current large language models, image generators and discovery engines fuel fears that artificial intelligence systems will replace human-driven creativity. However, analysing AI systems from the perspective of creative process reveals significant limitations. Human creativity begins with finding or recognizing novel problems or challenges, which no AI system has managed. The problems AI systems address are predetermined by human users, who also provide the data and constraints bounding effective answers. Thus, human beings still carry out the vast majority of creative process-related functions for AI. Moreover, most human creativity is embodied and involves the manipulation of tools and materials. Furthermore, all human creativity is based on “tagging” information and experiences through perceptions, sensations and emotions with meanings or actions. No AI has these attributes. All human innovations also involve “untagging” preconceived meanings and actions so as to “retag” them in novel and effective ways that change how we feel, understand and act. No AI can untag or retag data, let alone act. Finally, human creative thinking is based on observing, imaging, abstracting, analogizing, playacting, modelling, body thinking, etc., of which AI systems are capable only of pattern forming and pattern recognition. Thus, the challenges for developing true AI creativity are extensive.
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spelling doaj-art-d8dc8ce3c2d646e09e0f3099b3b066202025-08-21T04:17:44ZengElsevierJournal of Creativity2713-37452025-08-0135210009710.1016/j.yjoc.2025.100097An art-science perspective on artificial intelligence creativity: From problem finding to materiality and embodied cognitionRobert Root-Bernstein0Department of Physiology, 567 Wilson Road, Room 1104 BPS, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USACurrent large language models, image generators and discovery engines fuel fears that artificial intelligence systems will replace human-driven creativity. However, analysing AI systems from the perspective of creative process reveals significant limitations. Human creativity begins with finding or recognizing novel problems or challenges, which no AI system has managed. The problems AI systems address are predetermined by human users, who also provide the data and constraints bounding effective answers. Thus, human beings still carry out the vast majority of creative process-related functions for AI. Moreover, most human creativity is embodied and involves the manipulation of tools and materials. Furthermore, all human creativity is based on “tagging” information and experiences through perceptions, sensations and emotions with meanings or actions. No AI has these attributes. All human innovations also involve “untagging” preconceived meanings and actions so as to “retag” them in novel and effective ways that change how we feel, understand and act. No AI can untag or retag data, let alone act. Finally, human creative thinking is based on observing, imaging, abstracting, analogizing, playacting, modelling, body thinking, etc., of which AI systems are capable only of pattern forming and pattern recognition. Thus, the challenges for developing true AI creativity are extensive.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2713374525000044Artificial intelligenceExpert systemsCreativityCreative processProblem recognitionInnovation
spellingShingle Robert Root-Bernstein
An art-science perspective on artificial intelligence creativity: From problem finding to materiality and embodied cognition
Journal of Creativity
Artificial intelligence
Expert systems
Creativity
Creative process
Problem recognition
Innovation
title An art-science perspective on artificial intelligence creativity: From problem finding to materiality and embodied cognition
title_full An art-science perspective on artificial intelligence creativity: From problem finding to materiality and embodied cognition
title_fullStr An art-science perspective on artificial intelligence creativity: From problem finding to materiality and embodied cognition
title_full_unstemmed An art-science perspective on artificial intelligence creativity: From problem finding to materiality and embodied cognition
title_short An art-science perspective on artificial intelligence creativity: From problem finding to materiality and embodied cognition
title_sort art science perspective on artificial intelligence creativity from problem finding to materiality and embodied cognition
topic Artificial intelligence
Expert systems
Creativity
Creative process
Problem recognition
Innovation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2713374525000044
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