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It's Gen-AI Baby!
587 Plays1 month ago
This engaging, AI-generated conversation explores the transformative power of generative AI in creative fields, mainly through the lens of 3D visualization expert Ronan Bekerman as they read the article Ronen posted on his blog. The speakers discuss how AI tools like MidJourney and ChatGPT reshape artistic processes, from refining creative ideas to challenging our perceptions of reality. They dive into the philosophical implications, ethical concerns, and the exciting potential of AI to revolutionize not just art but industries across the board. It’s a blend of awe, caution, and curiosity about the future of human-AI collaboration.
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Transcript
Introduction to Generative AI and its Capabilities
00:00:00
Speaker
Okay, so picture this. You type a few words into your computer, and boom, it generates a photo-realistic image, like a Bauhaus skyscraper in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, or even cooler, a whole animation of it. That's what we're diving into today, the world of generative AI and how it's shaking up creative fields.
Ronan Beckerman and the Genexer Perspective
00:00:17
Speaker
Our guide for this wild ride is Ronan Bakerman. He's a total guru in 3D architectural visualization, and he's got this blog series. It's Gen AI Baby, ah where he explores these AI tools, not just the technical stuff,
00:00:29
Speaker
But from the perspective of a Genexer, someone who's seen it all, from pre-internet to, well, this.
Generative AI and the Perception of Reality
00:00:36
Speaker
Yeah. And what I find really fascinating is Beckerman doesn't shy away from the big questions. He goes straight for the jugular. How is this technology making us question reality itself? Right. He even brings up the simulation hypothesis, the whole idea that we might be living in a giant computer program. Yeah.
00:00:52
Speaker
And honestly, with AI creating these crazy realistic simulations, it's kind of freaking me out a little. It's like that scene in The Matrix where they show you how the simulation works and you can't tell what's real anymore, except this time it's not sci-fi. It's happening right now. It's interesting though, right? Beckerman connects this back to Plato's Allegory of the Cave, showing how these questions about perception and reality, they've been around for centuries.
00:01:16
Speaker
Like Plato predicted the future. He just didn't have the tech to show us. Exactly.
AI Unlocking Creativity in Architecture
00:01:21
Speaker
So before we spiral into an existential crisis, I'm curious about the practical side of things. How is Beckerman actually using these AI tools in his work?
00:01:29
Speaker
One thing that really struck me was he talked about AI helping him unlock creative ideas, ideas that he just couldn't access before. Like he tells this story about wanting to create an image, a mid-century modern house in California. Okay, so far pretty standard for an architect. Right, exactly. But he had this specific vision in his head and he couldn't quite get it down. Not in a physical model, not even a 2D drawing. So he turns to mid-journey.
00:01:53
Speaker
you know, that AI image generator, and starts with a basic prompt, something like stunning mid-century modern house in California. Okay, makes sense, but I'm guessing it didn't end there. Nope, not even close. He takes that prompt and feeds it into chat GPT, another AI tool. To refine it even further, he tells it to add details like golden hour lighting, a low camera angle, even make it look like it was shot on Kodak Vision 2383 film stock for that vintage vibe.
00:02:21
Speaker
Hold up, wait a minute. He can do that. Specify the film stock. That's insane. That's the thing about generative AI. It's not just about analyzing data. It's creating something entirely new based on your prompt. It's like having a conversation with the AI. But instead of words, you're using descriptions to shape the final product. Exactly. That's wild. It's like he's painting with language instead of brushes. But I imagine it takes serious skill to get it right. Oh, absolutely.
AI as a Creative Amplifier
00:02:48
Speaker
It's a whole new skill set.
00:02:50
Speaker
You know what's really blowing my mind here is it's not just the AI like spitting out a pretty picture. It's Beckerman using the AI to refine his own artistic vision. You know, it's like this whole other level of creative collaboration. Yeah, definitely kind of challenges this idea of an artist, you know, just toiling away in their own little world, doesn't it? Like here you've got Beckerman.
00:03:10
Speaker
using AI to bridge this gap between what he's imagining and the final product. Like having this super powered assistant who doesn't just understand your ideas, but can actually bring them to life in ways you wouldn't have thought of. Exactly. And you know, Beckerman really stresses that this is not about replacing human creativity, but more like amplifying it, you know, he talks about prompting as this whole new skill, like this modern day gold rush where the real treasure is knowing how to communicate with these AI tools. So wait, are you telling me I can't just go to mid journey and be like, make me something and cool. There's like an art to speaking AI.
00:03:44
Speaker
There really is. Beckerman even says he'll use that mid journey to scribe feature, you know, to analyze an image and it'll give him prompts based on what it sees. Then he'll take those AI generated prompts and put those into chat GPT to refine them even further. What? So he's basically using AI to have a conversation with itself. That's insane. And through that process, he's able to get this level of detail and specificity that would be practically impossible otherwise. So he's like getting inside the mind of AI with AI. Exactly. Wild. What does that even look like in practice? Well, he gives us really interesting example with this project he calls Plato's cave, you know, going back to the allegory
Human Input in AI-Driven Creativity
00:04:23
Speaker
of the cave. He wanted to create an image based on that concept. OK, so how do you even begin to describe something so philosophical and abstract to an AI?
00:04:31
Speaker
That was the big challenge for Bikerman, right? He realized that just relying on text prompts to try to convey such a complex idea just wasn't going to work. So he actually created a really rough digital painting himself, just as a starting point to give the AI some kind of visual reference. Wow, so he's like creating a visual prompt to guide the AI's creative process. Exactly. It really shows how important that human element still is, even with these amazing tools that we have at our disposal. It's ultimately the artist's vision and guidance that shapes how it all comes out in the end.
00:05:04
Speaker
It's like that saying a tool is only as good as its user, but in this case, the tool is pretty mind
AI in Animation and Ethical Implications
00:05:09
Speaker
blowing. Totally. And it's not just limited to these static images either. Bikraman's been messing around with stable diffusion to make animation. Oh, wow. Like imagine architectural walkthroughs that look and feel completely real or even entire movies generated by AI. Hold on.
00:05:25
Speaker
Movies. Like full-on feature films. Potentially. It's moving so fast that it's hard to even imagine what's possible. This is getting a little too black mirror for me. Yeah, it's a little bit of both, right? Exhilarating, but also a little unnerving.
00:05:39
Speaker
Yeah, exhilarating and unnerving is a good way to put it. yeah But we've got to be real here. This technology could be really disruptive, right? Absolutely. To Beckerman's credit, he doesn't shy away from any of that. you know In his blog posts, he talks all about this potential for deepfakes, misinformation, the impact on people's jobs. Yeah, those are some heavy topics. Big time. Yeah.
00:06:00
Speaker
And while we don't really have time to unpack all of it right now, it's important to just acknowledge that there are some really serious ethical and societal implications that we need to be thinking about carefully. So it's not all sunshine and roses then? Not exactly. But it's not all doom and gloom either. It's about finding that balance, you know, between using the power of this technology while making sure that it's used responsibly. yeah Easier said than done, I imagine. But I give Beckerman credit for at least getting the conversation going.
00:06:29
Speaker
He really does. And what I like about his approach is he's not just talking about the downsides you know in some kind of vague way.
The Revolutionizing Potential of AI
00:06:35
Speaker
He's exploring them in a very real way through his own work. What do you mean? Well, he talks about experimenting with auto GPT and chat GPT agents. OK, I've heard those terms thrown around. But to be honest, I'm not 100% sure what they are.
00:06:47
Speaker
So basically, there are these AI systems that can be programmed to do more complicated tasks, like generating not just one image, but a whole bunch of images that tell a story, or even writing code to automate certain parts of the design process. Wait, AI writing code. Is there anything these things can't do? That's the million dollar question, isn't it? And it really speaks to just how much potential this technology has to change, not just creative fields, but pretty much every industry out there.
00:07:16
Speaker
OK, I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed by all of this. This is a lot to wrap my head around. I hear you. It's a lot for all of us. But it's also incredibly exciting, don't you think? It really is. It's a brave new world out there. I'm really fascinated to see where it takes us. I got to say my head's spinning a little bit. We've gone from talking about cool pictures to like the fate of humanity in what feels like five minutes. That's generative AI for you. It's not just some tech experiment hidden away. It really could change everything.
00:07:45
Speaker
And that's what's so great about Beckerman's take on it. He's not just looking at the tech, he's thinking about the big picture, the really
AI's Impact on Reality and Self-Perception
00:07:51
Speaker
big picture. Yeah, he gets that this is making us ask these huge questions. What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be creative? Heck, what does it even mean to be real anymore? Okay, hold on. Real. Back to the Matrix again. Think about it. If AI can make images, videos, even whole worlds that look totally real, what happens to real then?
00:08:11
Speaker
Whoa. So it's not even just can AI make art as good as humans. It's changing how we see art, period. Exactly. And not just art. Everything. How we get information, how we talk to each other, even how we see ourselves. OK, this is a lot. Anyone else need a break? I hear you. It's a lot for everyone. But that's life these days, right? Text changing faster than ever. We just got to figure it out
Conclusion: Embracing AI's Possibilities
00:08:32
Speaker
as we go. So what do we do? Got any answers for us?
00:08:37
Speaker
If I did, I'd be writing a bestseller, not talking to you. But honestly, I think the most important thing is to stay informed, ask questions, and be open to what's possible, even if it's a little scary. Good advice. Don't panic.
00:08:50
Speaker
but also maybe panic a little. Pretty much. But seriously, this is a conversation we all need to be having. The more we talk about it, the more ready we'll be for whatever comes next. Well said. So to everyone listening, here's the takeaway. Generative AI is here. It's changing fast. Yeah. And it's changing everything. Find the wonder in it. Stay curious and buckle up. It's going to be a wild ride.