The Crazy One

Ep 138 Creativity: AI Isn’t the Enemy. Complacency Is.


Listen Later

The AI hype train is moving fast—and it’s already crashing into our creative industry. In this episode, Stephen finally wades into the AI conversation, not to break down tools or workflows (you’ll find that on his YouTube), but to unpack the bigger picture. What’s really at stake for creatives? How do we separate innovation from imitation? And what do we do in a world where originality is being overshadowed by copy-paste culture?

Stephen draws on decades of watching tech waves come and go—desktop publishing, digital design, NFTs—and argues why AI is different, but our response doesn’t have to be passive. This is a call to action for real creativity, deeper thinking, and sharper storytelling.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why we’re entering an era of creatives vs. copycats—and how to make sure you’re on the right side
  • What AI can do well, and where it still fails miserably
  • The real threat: companies and creatives who treat design as disposable
  • How to use AI as a tool without losing your original voice
  • Why comfort is the enemy of relevance in a rapidly changing industry

This isn’t a hype session or a panic spiral—it’s a push to engage, experiment, and show the industry why creativity still matters.

Send us a text

SHOW NOTES AND MORE:
https://thecrazy1.com/

WATCH MORE CONTENT ON YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/@StephenGates

WORK WITH CRZY:
http://crzydesign.com/

FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:
LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Crazy OneBy Stephen Gates

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

415 ratings


More shows like The Crazy One

View all
Daily Creative with Todd Henry by Todd Henry

Daily Creative with Todd Henry

515 Listeners

HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

HBR IdeaCast

1,830 Listeners

Design Matters with Debbie Millman by Design Matters Media

Design Matters with Debbie Millman

1,232 Listeners

Cold Call by HBR Presents / Brian Kenny

Cold Call

194 Listeners

Design Better by The Curiosity Department, sponsored by Wix Studio

Design Better

323 Listeners

Choiceology with Katy Milkman by Charles Schwab

Choiceology with Katy Milkman

1,431 Listeners

Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

Worklife with Adam Grant

9,188 Listeners

Inside the Strategy Room by McKinsey & Company

Inside the Strategy Room

171 Listeners

Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel by LinkedIn

Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

1,026 Listeners

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos by Pushkin Industries

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

14,396 Listeners

The Anxious Achiever by Morra Aarons-Mele

The Anxious Achiever

568 Listeners

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques by Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

794 Listeners

Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

Coaching Real Leaders

652 Listeners

HBR On Strategy by Harvard Business Review

HBR On Strategy

84 Listeners

HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

HBR On Leadership

151 Listeners