Lessons for Modern Creatives to Stay Original in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
A.I. is everywhere right now. It can write, design, edit, and plan content faster than most of us can blink. But for creatives, the real concern isn’t how powerful A.I. is, it’s what that power might be doing to originality.
In our latest Social Chat Series, we sat down with Chief Vera, media strategist, filmmaker, and Head of Brand & Business at Afia TV, to unpack what it truly means to be a creative in a world where artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we work.
From fear and doubt to balance and ownership, Vera walked us through the mindset shift today’s creatives need to stay relevant without losing their voice.
The First Reaction: Fear
When A.I. tools first hit the mainstream, Vera admits her initial reaction like many creatives was panic.
“You’re seeing something recreate work that usually takes you days… and it does it in minutes. Of course you’re going to feel like your skills are suddenly disposable,” she said.
However, she was quick to point out that most of the fear came from not fully understanding what A.I. actually does. For many creatives who truly understood the value of the work they did, once they started using it, it’s easy to realize that for the most part, it was not here to take on their role, instead it ultimately helped in making the creative process faster, which itself is a huge difference.
Still, the concern was valid. For creatives, the worry wasn’t just about speed, it was about value. So how do you use A.I. without losing your originality? Chief Vera breaks it down into key pieces.
1. Quick Doesn’t Always Mean Quality (Efficiency ≠ Value)
One of Vera’s key takeaways is that while A.I. can boost your workflow, it can’t replace your creative instincts.
Yes, it makes things quick. Slick. Polished. But fast doesn’t always mean meaningful. It doesn’t have your eye, your taste, or your story and that’s the difference.
She emphasized that the creative process isn’t just about clean output. It’s about feeling, taste, and perspective: things machines can’t replicate without feeling plastic.
She encourages creatives to treat A.I. as a co-pilot, not a creative director. Use it to support your vision, not drive it. Because the moment you copy-paste without thought, your voice starts to fade into the noise.
Authenticity is the goal. And that still requires a human touch.
2. A.I. Doesn’t Generate Vision – You Do
According to Vera, one of the biggest myths about A.I. is that it’s somehow more “creative” than people.
But the truth is it can’t dream or feel. It just remixes what’s already out there. So if your idea is weak, it can’t fix or change that. But if your idea is strong? A.I. can help you build it out faster and sharper.
In other words, originality still has to come from you. A.I. just helps you shape and scale it.
3. Protect Your Voice in the Age of Algorithms
One of Vera’s biggest warnings was about the subtle way A.I. can water down your creative identity.
If you lean too hard on A.I., you risk slowly losing your voice. Not because it’s stolen but because it gets blurred. Generic.
This is especially important, she added, for creators in Africa and other regions where most A.I. tools weren’t built with local context in mind.
“Sometimes the tone is too Western. Sometimes the references don’t land. You have to remember A.I. doesn’t know your culture. You do.” She highlighted.
If everything you make starts sounding too clean or too familiar, people stop feeling you in the work. Vera urged creators to keep prompting in their own tone, rewriting until it feels right, and trusting their gut when something’s off.
“People don’t remember something that sounds like everyone else. They remember you, your tone, your rhythm, your way of telling the story.” Ste added.
4. There Are Still Things A.I. Can’t Do
Even with all its capabilities, Vera reminded us A.I. still lacks a major ingredient in storytelling: Empathy.
It analyzes trends, crunch numbers, and mimics tone but it can’t understand emotion the way people do. It can’t feel or tell when something is emotionally off.
That’s why she believes the human element in creativity isn’t going anywhere. That’s why she believes the human element of storytelling will always matter. Your intuition, emotions, and ability to connect with people makes what you do special and that’s your true creative advantage.
Final Thoughts: There’s No Shame in Using A.I. — Just Use It Well
Some creatives worry that using A.I. makes their work less authentic. Vera shut that idea down completelysaying using A.I. doesn’t make you less creative. Misusing it might. But if you’re intentional, it’s just another tool in your kit.
It’s not about rejecting technology. It’s about using it with purpose. Know when to delegate. Know when to dig in. That balance is where the magic lives.
So… Is A.I. Killing Creativity?
“Only if you stop trying,” Vera told us.
She left us with three key reminders:
- Stay curious, not afraid.
- Be intentional, not robotic.
- Use A.I. to amplify your voice, not erase it.
At the end of the day, A.I. isn’t the enemy, it’s only as good as what you feed it. When you stop showing up, stop questioning, stop shaping, that’s when creativity dies.
So feed it well. Shape it with vision. And protect what makes your creativity yours.
If you enjoyed this article, it was written by C&C Digital House, a creative agency helping brands tell better stories, connect with real people, and lead without losing their voice. From content strategy to video to scroll-stopping social media, we’re the team behind the brands that don’t follow trends, they set them.
Reach out to us: candcdigitalhouse@gmail.com
