Will AI Replace Man-Made Video?

There is a lot of hype going around right now about artificial intelligence (AI). It’s in the news, it’s built into our workplaces, and soon it’ll be flooding social media platforms like crazy. One of my business mentors, Graham Cochrane, predicts that in the next 12-18 months, we are going to see an overwhelming supply of AI-generated content that will prove valuable and look near perfect. Having spent more than a decade in the technology industry, I’ve seen first hand how eager our corporations and government are to implement AI tools to increase productivity. AI resources are freely available today and it won’t be long before we struggle to distinguish between what is truly man-made, versus a computer-generated facade.

Knowing all this, it may cause you to question what even is the point of learning how to make videos if typing a few prompts into ChatGPT could achieve a similar result in seconds? Video gear can get expensive and editing is time consuming, so doesn’t it make more sense to take the AI shortcut like everyone else?

My prediction is that in the near term, AI is going to seem like the no-brainer option for many, if not all creative endeavors. It’s already creating music that’s topping the charts, it’s developing actors who are winning awards and there are photography competitions with AI categories… what?! That being said, I strongly believe that authentic human creativity will prevail in the long run. Disclaimer: I am not a tech analyst (though I did work for the world’s largest IT research and advisory firm), and these reasons are purely based on my own opinions and beliefs.

With that out of the way, here are three reasons why I believe human creativity will always trump artificial intelligence, and more importantly, why I believe now is the best time to double-down on man-made content creation.

#1 - AI Doesn’t Know What It’s Like To Be Human

Remember how it felt when you had your first crush. Maybe you mustered up the courage to hold hands at the Friday-night football game or the annual party at the skating rink (dating myself here). What about that awkward vacation when your parents missed a crucial highway exit which sent you hours in the wrong direction? Do you remember the sense of elation you had when getting to drive your own car for the very first time, eager to explore this newfound freedom? These are only a few of the thousands of life experiences we all have as human beings, and something AI will never understand.

Being human is so much more than flesh and blood. We know what life feels like because we’ve lived it. We understand love and pain, anticipation and disappointment. We have dreams and desires that drive us to trying new things and discovering our passions. We can tell stories that are relatable because we’ve lived through similar experiences. AI may have a voice that is “trained” to sound empathetic or supportive or angry or excited, but it’s just computer-generated audio and not authentic emotion. This emotion is precisely what makes for a great video and without it, something will feel out of place.

Okay, maybe your argument is that since you’re new to video production, AI can create something that looks better (whatever that means) than what you can make (for now) and you don’t want to publish bad content. Friend, the world doesn’t need more perfection, it needs more of you! Your story, your ambitions, your voice. Despite what many data scientists may want you to think, life does not happen on a spreadsheet and no amount of code or programming will ever give AI the human experience. This is your human advantage.

#2 - If Everybody is Special, Nobody is Special

At the beginning of this post I mentioned that there is an outrageous amount of hype surrounding AI right now. And there seems to be an uncomfortable rush to using it, yet nobody really understands why or how it can serve them beyond funny images and more professional sounding emails. It reminds me a lot of stock photos/footage. Have you ever visited a website made almost entirely of stock images? I know I’ve seen my fair share. A lot of companies will do this to try and look bigger, but in my opinion, it’s lazy and makes them look like every other big dumb company. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve certainly used stock images, footage, and templates before (heck, I made the thumbnail for this blog post in Canva using stock footage). I am just careful about when and how often I use them.

The point is, AI is making everyone look and sound the same. Sure, the early adopters fooled a few folks, but now everything is starting to seem too perfect and our authenticity alarms are going off. This is one of the quickest ways you can lose trust and credibility with your audience and/or clients. If you want to deliver something new and refreshing, you need to try something new and refreshing. Sure AI feels new right now, but it’s not refreshing. It’s merely a regurgitation of data that’s already been determined. AI is learning based on previous and newly entered data. The problem is, it’s not always 100% correct, but it can be difficult to tell fact from fiction.

Some of the best ideas have come from the unintended consequence of trying something unique. Just look up the story behind the Super Soaker! AI can be a useful productivity tool when used appropriately. Just don’t follow the crowd and use it for creation because you’ll end up looking and sounding just like everyone else. Boring.

#3 - You Have Access To a Greater Intelligence

For the record, I’m not a pastor and this is not going to turn into a 60 minute sermon about getting your life right with God, but I am going to talk about some biblical principles for a moment. If you’ve never read the Bible or have a different set of beliefs, you are still very much welcome here! But I do think it’s worth calling out a few truths shared in scripture that remind me AI is not going to replace us.

In Genesis, the very first book of the Bible, we are given some incredible information. Genesis 1:27 says “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Wow! Each of us has been hand-crafted with unique desires, abilities, and experiences that can powerfully serve those around us. AI may have been designed by some of the most brilliant human minds alive today, but everything about you was beautifully designed by the creator of the entire universe! Better yet, this creator has offered you a direct line of communication at no charge! So how does this information help you on your video journey? Maybe nothing specifically. Maybe everything entirely.

The Bible does not promise wealth and power if we choose to follow Jesus (at least not in the way we think of wealth and power), but it is God’s desire to have a meaningful relationship with us. This relationship can lead to more joy and peace in your life. You will find wisdom and discernment, empowering you to make more fruitful decisions. Sure artificial intelligence may provide a quick fix to a small problem now, but a relationship with God will impact every area of your life forever. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” If you have the gift of speaking or serving, authentic content creation is a great way to expand your reach. Don’t be fooled by what is artificial, and instead seek what is true.

My Commitment To You

Let’s face it, AI is going to infiltrate many areas of our lives. It is very possible that jobs will be displaced and the economy will shift as it does every time some breakthrough technology enters the scene. But learning a new skill or developing an existing one is so good for your brain. You may have started creating content to serve others (keep it up!), but deep down, it’s also an outlet for creative expression. Will we see some amazingly helpful AI-generated content in the near future? 100%. Will it replace your uniqueness, your experiences, and your story? Not even close.

Friend, I founded Guided Productions as a means to serve the folks who are currently in the position I was in when I was first learning video production. I want to share all the things I wish I had known then and encourage people that it is still a worthwhile endeavor. It is my commitment to you that all of the written and video content delivered by Guided Productions will be imperfectly made by me… a human. You may find some typos in my written content, and my videos won’t always be polished and professional, but that’s how you’ll know it’s genuine. Anybody can enter a prompt and let a computer produce a generic response, or you can take a risk, use a little brain power, and create something real. The choice is yours.