IS AI CREATIVE? OR JUST REMIXING THE PAST?
At House of gAi, we’re all about experimenting at the intersection of creativity and technology—without losing the soul of design. And lately, we’ve heard one question more than any other: “Is AI actually creative… or is it just remixing what’s already been done?”
It’s a juicy debate. And thanks to the AI Problems Index by Dr. Sam Gilbert, we’ve got some real research to unpack. Let’s dig into what the science says—and how you can use AI to become more you, not less.
Claude Monet inspired MidJourney astronaught
THE DATA SAYS: AI CAN BOOST INDIVIDUAL CREATIVITY
When used well, AI tools have been shown to help humans generate more creative ideas, faster—especially for folks stuck in a rut or facing blank-page syndrome.
Here’s what the research shows:
In a 2024 study published in Science Advances, participants who used AI-generated idea prompts produced stories that independent raters judged as more creative, enjoyable, and well-written. Notably, the biggest boost happened among less experienced or less “naturally creative” individuals.
The NeuroLeadership Institute found that stories created with AI support were 25% more enjoyable and 10% more creative, especially when the AI served as a jumping-off point rather than a full generator.
According to Adobe’s “Creativity with AI in Education” report, AI helps students enhance their critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity—suggesting that these tools can serve as powerful collaborators, not just shortcuts.
TL;DR: AI isn’t stealing your ideas. It’s handing you more of them—and it’s up to you to decide which ones are worth shaping.
BUT BEWARE: CREATIVE HOMOGENIZATION IS REAL
Of course, there’s another side to the coin. When everyone uses the same tools trained on the same datasets, it can lead to work that feels… eerily similar. This isn’t just a vibe—it’s measurable.
A study from ACM CHI 2024 found that participants who used ChatGPT for idea generation created outputs that were less semantically diverse than those using alternate creativity tools. The AI-assisted group clustered more tightly around similar solutions.
The same Science Advances paper cited above also flagged that while individual creativity improved, group diversity of ideas declined—meaning everyone started circling the same creative drain, even with more ideas overall.
This effect is called creative homogenization—and it’s why we must stay intentional and human-centered when using these tools.
HUMAN DIRECTION > AI GENERATION
So what makes the difference between same-old AI outputs and something actually inspired? You.
The most original outcomes came from people who used AI to stretch their thinking—not those who just accepted the first output.
Dr. Gilbert puts it simply in the AI Problems Index:
“Those who approach AI as a collaborator rather than a replacement maintain higher levels of originality.”
This tracks with our philosophy at House of gAi: AI should never replace your taste, vision, or intent. It’s a creative partner, not a creative director.
HOUSE OF GAI’S RULES FOR CREATIVES USING AI
Whether you’re new to generative tools or ready to deepen your practice, here’s how we recommend you work with AI without losing your creative edge:
🎯 Start with strategy → Know the message, the mood, and the meaning before you generate a thing.
🎨 Prompt with purpose → Be weird. Be precise. Be you. Vague prompts = boring results.
🧩 Remix everything → Layer hand-drawn textures. Mash AI outputs with photography. Add type treatments and human touches. Make it yours.
🧠 Always direct, never default → AI gives you 10 ideas? You choose the one with soul—and shape it until it sings.
READY TO MASTER THIS?
If you want to actually use these tools across a full creative workflow—from concept to brand rollout—this is for you:
Starts: June 24, 2025
Live + interactive classes
For graphic designers, brand strategists & freelancers
Covers: Brand strategy, creative direction, visual identity, copywriting, presentation—and how AI fits into each step
This isn’t just a prompt writing course. This is the future of branding, reimagined.
You bring the vision. We’ll help you unlock the tools to scale it.
CREATIVITY IS STILL HUMAN
Let’s be clear: AI is powerful, but it’s not magic. It doesn’t dream, it doesn’t feel, it doesn’t rebel. You do.
And that’s why, when AI meets human creativity with purpose, the results aren’t just faster—they’re bolder, sharper, and more honest. So don’t resist the tools. Resist becoming predictable. The future is hybrid—and it’s wildly exciting.