No Creativity Without Disruption? Generative AI & Crisis of Irritation

Generative AI is a driving force for new forms of creativity. Does it truly create something new, or merely refine the expected? A panel on creative disruption, confusion and the future of creativity.

Creativity arises less from continuous production than from the interruption of routine actions. When expectations are dashed, processes stall, and new perspectives become necessary, a moment of reflection sets in: situations are reinterpreted, and courses of action are reconsidered.

Experiences of irritation, contingency, and loss of control are thus central catalysts for creative and moral thinking. But what happens to creativity when AI systems smooth out precisely these disruptions?

Image, text, and music generators produce ideas, variations, and drafts in seconds. They accelerate, shift, and reorganize work processes.

On a practical level, they effectively disrupt operational routines. At the same time, they may reinforce patterns of thought and design: Their suggestions are based solely on statistical probabilities, not on productive surprises.

The result? Optimized predictability and seamless connectivity. Or is that not the case?

We discuss the consequences for artistic practice and expertise, who benefits and who loses out, and how AI can be deployed in a way that not only accelerates processes but actually opens up new spaces for thought and action.