Creativity is a complex concept for which there is no single unambiguous definition. In general, creativity can be thought of as something new that matters [i]. Creativity is related to both science and art, but it can also be part of business, for example in the form of new, innovative ways of working or the ability to solve problems in a new way. It could be said that creativity is the discovery or invention of a new perspective.
What is the contribution of AI, and can it be creative? Or is it that AI is even stifling our creativity? Current AI applications are all examples of weak AI. Weak or narrow AI can only do what humans tell it to do, while strong AI can think for itself, just like humans. So far, strong AI has not yet been successfully developed [ii].
When considering the role and potential of AI as a facilitator of creative work, it is important to distinguish whether by creativity we mean the instrumental use of AI in the creative process or the end results produced by AI, such as the image it creates.
When discussing the benefits and drawbacks of AI, the focus is always on generative AI, which can produce content such as text and images. It is worth remembering that generative AI is only one form of AI. Different applications of AI are part of our everyday life: a car lane-keeper or a robot vacuum cleaner are examples. Medicine also uses AI, for example in surgical operations [iii].
AI’s own opinion
Let’s first ask ChatGPT for its opinion on how it can contribute to the creative process.
AH: How can AI contribute to creativity?
ChatGPT:
- Providing inspiration: AI can analyse large amounts of data, such as artwork, music or books, and suggest new ideas or themes that can inspire creative professionals.
- Acting as a tool: AI can assist in the creative process, for example in the creation of graphics, music or text. It can automatically generate sketches or melodies that artists can further develop.
- Collaboration: AI can be a partner with whom creative people can interact. This collaboration can lead to new perspectives and innovation.
In its response, AI emphasises its own instrumental value – it is not an artist or a researcher, but a tool that allows a creative person to get new ideas, process large amounts of data and sketch things out.
In fact, ChatGPT is at the heart of the matter. If we use AI judiciously in brainstorming and, for example, in sketching and structuring our own projects, it can be a good helper. But we shouldn’t let the errand boy be the master. There is a danger in that, even if the temptation is great.
In praise of laziness?
Is AI making us lazier and stupid? Are we no longer working our grey brain cells to solve a problem, acquire knowledge or create new content?
In learning, for example, AI can become a problem: when a student has their tasks done by AI, learning outcomes deteriorate. Problem-based learning is an example of harnessing your own creativity in learning. Already, the breakthrough of ChatGPT has led students to rely on AI. For example, AI is used to outline theses at universities of applied sciences, and an increasing number of high school students are using AI applications to complete translation assignments. In most cases, this is a disservice to personal learning and creative thinking.
The classic Zipf’s law, the principle of least effort, is the incentive to use AI: get the information where it’s easiest to get it. [iv]
Ideas and views?
If AI can be a lazy person’s solution for completing a task that requires creative thinking and problem-solving, it is not necessarily always a bad thing. It has various good features, such as the ability to analyse large data sets; which allows humans to focus on cognitive processes rather than routine activities.
A key part of the creative process when writing, researching or studying a book is data mining.
To facilitate data retrieval, AI applications have been developed for this purpose, such as Iris.AI, which is being tested at the University of Eastern Finland and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. [v]
The test team was a little sceptical about Iris. It found some useful sources, but information seekers questioned the coverage of the search results. Was there something essential that the informatician had missed?
Artificial intelligence and literature
Artificial intelligence has given artists the tools and opportunities to create new kinds of art. Good examples are the various types of massive video sculptures. Generative AI, on the other hand, has changed the process of making text. It has primarily affected the writing of essays and various types of research papers, but AI-generated fiction and non-fiction is already a thing of the past. In the future, their number is likely to grow significantly.
Artificial intelligence can be used to write entire novels. One of the best-known examples is Tōkyō-to Dōjō Tō (Tokyo Tower of Sympathy), by Japanese author Rie Kuda, which won the Akutagawa Prize for Literature in 2023 [vi]. There are also English-language applications on the market that are specifically designed to produce fiction text. A human defines the genre and some other background variables, and AI writes the script. In my view, this use of AI is detrimental to literature. It easily produces light, formulaic entertainment. These works fail to capture emotion and analytical insight.
Another example is Sudowrite [vii], which makes it easy to write a novel: choose a genre, enter a subject and Sudowrite will write 300 words for you. It suggests a sequel and you can choose from the suggestions or give your own options. In addition, Sudowrite allows you to choose a style by giving a narrative style from an author. For example, you can ask the AI to write in the same style as Agatha Christie. In this case, it will formulate the sentences in a “Christie-like” way.
Is writing a book with Sudowrite [viii] or a similar application truly creativity? Does it produce a multi-level, personal and reflective text? Even if it is entertainment, I believe that current AI applications should be used at most to sketch out a topic. Writing is the writer’s job and should remain so.
So far, only a few collections of poems written by AI have been published in Finnish. In addition, AI has been used in the creation of some non-fiction books, mainly as a tool for structuring and brainstorming. In contrast, fiction written by AI has been published in Swedish and English. [ix]
Artist’s tool
Artificial intelligence has been the subject of heated debate in art circles. Some have even questioned whether art produced by AI is real art [x]. Just as Sudowrite turns hobbyists into writers, AI also makes it possible to create images. The problem is often copyright; the work of professional artists is often exploited without permission.
Again, it is a question of how AI is used. For example, Pasi Rauhala has used AI in his production. It has enabled many solutions that would otherwise have been difficult to implement. An example of this is Rauhala’s Future Truss video sculpture at Aalto University [xi].
AI certainly enables a layperson to produce images of higher quality than clip art, but ultimately it is humans, not AI, who make the art. Whatever the creative process, AI is a tool that humans should use responsibly. Creativity comes from the human being, and IT adds new dimensions and creates new possibilities. It does not make you an independent artist or researcher, at least for the time being.
Read the entire AI Guide for Teachers here.
Sources
[i] Sternberg R. J. (2001). What is the common thread of creativity? Its dialectical relation to intelligence and wisdom. American Psychologist 2001; 56. s. 360–362.
[ii] Haasio, A. (2025). Tekoäly ja kirjastot. Avain. (ilm. 1/2025).
[iii] Chatterjee, S., Das, S., Ganguly, K., & Mandal, D. (2024). Advancements in robotic surgery: innovations, challenges and prospects. Journal of Robotic Surgery, 18 (1), 28.
[iv] Haasio, A., Harviainen, J. T. & Savolainen, R. (2019). Johdatus tiedonhankintatutkimukseen. Avain.
[v] Haasio, 2025.
[vi] Yao, D, (5.2.2024). Author Admits tl. o Using AI to Write Award-winning Novel. AI Business 5.2024. https://aibusiness.com/nlp/author-reveals-using-chatgpt-for-award-winning-novel
[vii] Sudowrite. https://www.sudowrite.com
[viii] Sudowrite. https://www.sudowrite.com
[ix] Haasio, 2025.
[x] Mineo, L. (2023). Writer, animator, architect, musician, and mixed-media artist detail potential value, limit of works produced by AI. The Harvard Gazette 15.8.2023. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/08/is-art-generated-by-artifi cial-intelligence-real-art/
[xi] Salonen, P. (2023). Tekoäly rynnii taiteeseen. Taide 3/2023.
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