Deep Patterning of Creativity
By Irene Tsang

In the welcoming space of the American Women’s Association venue, the diverse group of writers attending the WiPS-organized speaker session on 29 August were wired up by what they were hearing. Whether it was the complexity of the topic of creative writing and AI, or the scope of the material the speaker covered, or audience members subjectively articulating their own thinking, the tension of intellectual and philosophical stimulation was palpable for the evening’s full ninety minutes.

Stimulated thinking is hard work because it is about pushing boundaries. Dr. Page Richards used her wealth and breadth of knowledge to share some provoking thoughts. From the seemingly straightforward issue of what constitutes a life story, to the contemplation of consciousness, to the more complex and unknown navigation of AI, she weaved us through the role of language, the impact of diction and the link to neurological responses.

“I wake up in astonishment,” said Dr. Richards, sharing her reaction to the morning updates of the AI projects around the world with which she is involved, including the building of a baby robot. Instead of giving us a simple answer to how AI is going to impact creative writing, in her thorough and multi-dimensional presentation, she managed to jolt the audience’s thinking to whatever boundary participants were willing to accept. There is no simple answer because it is not a linear, one-dimensional question. According to Dr. Richards, in the context of creative writing, it is a mistake to take AI as a shortcut; the genre will evolve and there is the possibility of partnership.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you make them feel,” she said, quoting Maya Angelou. Most in the audience are unlikely to forget how Dr. Richards made them feel – and how we feel, in our widening worlds of experience, is just what we’re looking to understand more.

We thank Dr. Richards for her intellectual challenge.