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To Art Is Human
AI might be the future. Do we want it?
I was in Barcelona. I had to see La Pedrera, an early 20th century modernist apartment building designed by famed Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi.
Standing on the rooftop, surrounded by bizarre chimneys and distinctive statues, staring at the city below, suddenly interrupted by a rush of small children running off the staircase.
“La Sagrada Familia!” they exclaimed, running up to the edge of the rooftop, peering out at the unfinished basilica, chattering excitedly in Catalan.
“They’re saying,” my friend translated, “we’re so lucky to live here, in such a beautiful place.”
Barcelona IS a beautiful place, full of unique buildings including the one we were standing in, and La Sagrada Familia — a church designed by Gaudi in the late 19th century that has been under construction since 1882.
It is stunning. Unique. But at the same time, inefficient.
I recently had a conversation with a friend that made me think about this. She is a tech person. I am a creative. Despite this, we’ve been friends for over a decade.
She told me how excited she is for the mainstreaming of AI. It will be everywhere soon, and she can’t wait. I, less enthusiastic, pushed back. Was this really a good thing…