Am I Betraying My Art by Using ChatGPT?
I remember when my 16-year-old nephew casually shared at a Friday dinner that he and his friends were using a new tool to write essays in seconds. It was my first real encounter with ChatGPT—at the time, a mysterious, almost alien concept. I remember feeling disconnected from it, uneasy about where society was headed. Is this what we’re becoming? Lazy and uninspired?
Fast-forward a year, and here we are. AI tools like ChatGPT are not just mainstream—they’re deeply embedded in our creative and professional lives. I’ll admit it: I use ChatGPT a lot. But as someone who identifies as deeply soulful and creative, my relationship with AI is layered. In this article, I’ll share my mixed thoughts and feelings about this powerful tool.
1. Essence Versus Emotion: Finding the Creative Center
What makes art special? I’ve always believed it’s the energy the creator pours into it. Art isn’t just about the final product—it’s about the soul behind it. When a creation comes from that deep, raw place within us, the audience feels it.
At the same time, I resonate deeply with the saying: “Act from consciousness, not from emotion.” Emotions are fleeting—“energy in motion”—whereas our center feels still, calm, and lasting. While strong emotions often inspire us to create, the real magic happens when we strip our work to its purest form—its essence.
This is where my view on ChatGPT starts to shift. Initially, I rejected the idea that a machine could produce anything soulful or deeply personal. And I still stand by that: a machine cannot pour its own experience into a creation.
However, when I connect this to the art of simplifying a creation to its essence, ChatGPT becomes a surprisingly valuable tool. It can help strip away the unnecessary, leaving space for clarity and focus.
Unsplash Image by Bernie Almanzae
2. The Subjective Creator: From Complexity to Clarity
As a creator, my mind is complex. When I sit down to write, I know I’m about to enter a mental maze—connecting dots, refining ideas, and simplifying intricate concepts. This process is exhausting because, as humans, our mental “computers” are limited.
ChatGPT doesn’t have this limitation. It can process vast amounts of information quickly and efficiently, connecting ideas objectively without the mental fatigue we experience.
There’s another challenge human creators face: we become too close to our work. At a certain point, it’s hard to see clearly, to remain objective. ChatGPT doesn’t have this problem—it provides a fresh, unbiased perspective that can help us refine and distill our ideas.
However, this objectivity comes with a caveat: it shouldn’t replace the human presence in art.
3. Balancing Authenticity: Don’t Hide Behind the Work
The pediatrician and psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott once said:
“Artists are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide.”
This quote strikes me deeply, as I’m sure it does for many creatives. Sharing your art is vulnerable—like revealing a part of your soul to the world.
When you pair the objectivity AI provides with its ability to strip a piece to its essence, there’s a risk: you can easily start hiding behind the work. The process becomes about perfection rather than personal expression.
While removing emotional “noise” and simplifying your work is beautiful, the goal isn’t to erase yourself entirely. If your art lacks you, then a machine really could have created it. Letting your soul shine through—flaws and all—is what gives a creation its humanity.
4. Sitting With the Unknown: Questions and Curiosity
To exist as a human being is to live with uncertainty. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring—let alone the next hour. And yet, there’s beauty in that unknown. It fuels curiosity, creativity, and the slow unraveling of answers over time.
ChatGPT, however, has conditioned us to expect instant answers. That constant access to immediate knowledge can diminish our ability to sit with questions, to let the mystery breathe.
But there’s a rhythm to life—a time for answers and a time for questions. The presence of AI doesn’t change that. Even with immediate answers at our fingertips, we still need to honor the process of curiosity.
Unsplash Image by Joakim Honkasalo
5. Technology as an Extension of Human Nature
It’s easy to think of technology as something unnatural—an invasive force disrupting human existence. But is it? Technology is a product of human nature. We created it, and it evolves alongside us. In a way, it’s an extension of our creative impulse.
Like any tool, its value lies in how we use it. A hammer can build or destroy—it’s all about intention. ChatGPT is no different. The experience you get from it depends on what you put in. If you approach it thoughtfully, your interaction with AI can remain deeply personal and reflective of your unique essence.
When we stop resisting technology and start seeing it as part of our evolution, we can use it to enhance our process rather than replace it.
Final Thoughts: A Creative Partnership
I don’t believe AI is inherently good or bad—it’s a mirror, reflecting how we choose to engage with it. As creatives, the way we interact with AI reveals a lot about where we stand internally.
If we can use ChatGPT in service of our creative process—to simplify, clarify, and provide objectivity—while ensuring our soul remains at the center, it becomes a powerful partner. It’s not about hiding behind technology, but about using it to amplify what’s already alive and burning within us.
In this way, AI becomes not a rival, but a collaborator—a tool that supports us in bringing our most authentic creations to life.
Unsplash Image by Mike Gorrell
What do you feel about AI? How comfortable or uncomfortable are you using it as a creative? Let me know your experience! x
Follow me on Instagram @soulbynell for more thoughts, art, and inspiration.
