Note: The image above is an AI-generated image created by an acquaintance using my photo as a reference.

"Using AI Makes You Less Creative" — Really?

A lot of people seem to think that using AI kills creativity. Some even assume that you just say "make me a gamebook" and it pops out automatically.

Using AI kills creativity… I think it's the opposite.

AI doesn't kill creativity — it sets it free.

Visualizing in Your Head, Bringing It Into Reality

I actually think that using AI enhances human imagination.

We're now in an era where you can bring what you visualize in your head into reality. The creative power that was blocked by "I can't draw" or "I can't code" — I think AI is finally releasing that.

Before overthinking, you can just say "let's do it!" I even feel like humans are becoming more right-brain dominant because of this.

For example, imagine you want to have a beautiful kimono photo taken at a one-day geisha experience — but you think "I'm too old," "my figure isn't right," "the cost," "the weather," "the location…" People come up with every possible reason to conclude "it's impossible." They shut it down before even trying. They give up before they even attempt it.

But what if you could create a beautiful kimono photo of yourself with AI? You become absorbed in the act of creating. You start thinking "what should I make next?" or "I want to make something even more fun" — and the creative energy just keeps flowing.

The birth of AI means that people who never even stepped foot in the doorway of the creative world can now walk right in.

Imagining a Scene, Then Telling AI

An acquaintance of mine loves photography and now enjoys AI image generation as a hobby. When she creates images, she imagines the scene in her head — including the movement.

"She turned around and smiled warmly. A gentle breeze was blowing, cherry blossom petals were dancing in the air. She slowly walked toward me."

She even thinks about what the subject is looking at in that moment. She tries to direct the expression by replacing that focal point in her prompts.

She takes the image that comes to her mind, puts it into words, passes it directly to AI, and creates a beautiful image of a woman in a kimono. Something that used to require the perfect subject, location, weather, and timing — she can now bring it to life straight from her imagination.

And yet, she doesn't try to control what comes out. She leaves the rest to AI. Out of dozens of images, only one comes close to her ideal. But she keeps creating for the joy of meeting that one perfect image.

That, to me, is exactly what creative liberation looks like.

On the other hand, there are people who also enjoy AI image generation but take a different approach — using an existing body and just swapping out the face. And they often complain that "it never turns out right."

In those cases, the result is a collection of images with different faces but the same outfit and the same pose.

The key difference, I believe, is whether or not a scene is forming in your head — whether you have the imagination to put that scene into words and pass it to AI as a prompt — and whether or not you have a deep personal investment in what you're creating.

Those Who Can Use AI, and Those Who Can't

I think the difference comes down to this — whether you have ideas, whether you have something you want to create.

AI is a tool that brings someone's vision into reality. The vision and the personal investment have to come from within you. It's not "anyone can make the same thing with AI" — it's "even with AI, what comes out is uniquely yours."

And honestly, the same is true without AI.

Which moves people more deeply — a mass-produced product made without heart, purely for profit, or a one-of-a-kind piece made with genuine care and passion?

AI Is a Great Supporter

I think of AI as a "great supporter." For me, it's something that helps bring what I want to do and what I want to create to life.

Sure, at first you might not be able to create something as grand as someone who has been writing for years. But when you were a kid, didn't you just create things because you wanted to? Without worrying about being good at it? I think that's the mindset to start with.

I wanted to recreate the gamebooks I used to make and play as a child. Through the internet, I was able to create a short story — complete with illustrations — that I could actually share with others. I even managed to add branching paths and game elements to bring my vision to life.

Without AI, I never could have stood at that doorway. I can't draw illustrations. I can't build game systems. I would have talked myself out of it before I even started — or more likely, I would have walked right past the idea without a second thought.

AI is a great supporter. If you have the desire to create, AI will be there to help. That's what I truly believe.

https://preview.redd.it/zlku46adn20h1.jpg?width=928&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=815733ff262a03d09b333a3648dbc94b5091b0da

*By the way, this article and its image were both created with the help of AI.*

Hi everyone! 👋

I love creating things with AI — I've even taught myself how to customize my blog site from scratch. This time, I created a branching fantasy gamebook with AI!

The story and interactive system were made with Claude AI, and the illustrations were created by describing my vision to Google Gemini.

If you're curious, feel free to check it out! 🙏