At the heart of every human connection is self-expression. The stories we tell, the gestures we share, the images we create — all are attempts to bridge the gap between our inner world and the outer one. When we express ourselves, we feel heard, seen and safe. When we cannot, isolation and despair can set in.
As a software architect working at the intersection of AI and content creation, I want to explore how AI can help us reclaim and enrich our self-expression, thereby allowing us to connect more deeply and creatively.
Express to connect
In my favorite sci-fi series, The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, the Trisolarans communicate through direct patterns of electromagnetic waves, achieving perfect transparency. Us humans, on the other hand, despite a profound desire for connection, often struggle to find the right words or medium to convey how we feel. Vulnerability, fear of misunderstanding, or simply the limits of our skills can leave us feeling helpless.
Imagine a world where self-expression is not a struggle, but a joy. A world where everyone, regardless of background or skill, can communicate their thoughts and feelings with ease. In such a world, we would build deeper understanding, stronger relationships, and a richer appreciation for the diversity of human experience.
This is where AI can make a real difference. By empowering us to express ourselves more easily and creatively, AI has the potential to bridge gaps in communication and help us connect on a deeper level. Whether you think in pictures, sounds, or stories, AI tools can help translate your inner world into forms others can see, hear, and feel. In doing so, they can help us move closer to the kind of connection we all crave. How, you might ask? Let’s explore this through the lens of art.
Self-expression through art
Art is our oldest language. Long before there were words, humans painted on cave walls. Through color, shape, and form, we’ve shared joy, sorrow, hope and despair with each other for millenia. In recent centuries, art has increasingly emphasized self-expression. Consider Edvard Munch’s iconic ‘The Scream’ as an example.
While we may not know the intimate details of his life, Munch’s ‘The Scream’ resonates universally, as we identify with the shared moments of despair and horror. As the prolific philosopher Alain de Botton eloquently states in ‘A therapeutic journey’: “Art is a weapon against despair. It is a tool with which to alleviate a sense of crushing isolation and uniqueness. It provides common ground where the sadness in me can, with dignity and intelligence, meet the sadness in you.” Fundamentally, art fosters connection through the expression of shared human experiences.
Historically, art as a means of self-expression has largely been the domain of artists. Some of us might aspire to paint on a quiet Saturday afternoon, only to abandon the effort in frustration, thinking, ‘I cannot paint!’. Yet, the desire and need for self-expression are universal. What we’ve lacked are the skills to manifest these desires in art forms. With AI, things are changing.
Self-expression with AI art – my personal journey
I am not an artist by training. My background is in graphics research and engineering, focusing on software for 3D content creation for films, games, and VR. While this immersed me in the work of professional artists, I always longed to create my own — but lacked the necessary skills. That changed, thanks to advances in AI.
Recently, a friend asked about my childhood, specifically my experiences with education. Truth be told, despite doing well in school, in my younger years, I often felt suffocated by a conformist school system where everyone seemed interchangeable and education lacked the personal touch. I longed for the summer and winter breaks where I could just ‘do my own thing’. The image below, created with AI, is an artistic rendition of that feeling. (Yes, I admired Miss Piggy for her bold attitude, unapologetic style and Karate skills!) I initially created this as a response to my friend, and now I am sharing it with all of you–a testament to AI’s power to make the previously impossible possible.
For the past year, I’ve created AI art daily. This practice has been profoundly fulfilling, therapeutic and creatively stimulating. It has truly become a ‘flow state’ for me where hours pass as I translate my inner feelings and imagination into these visual forms of expression. These creations serve as a visual journal of my inner world that I can access at any time. And as a side benefit, I’ve also learned a few things about making better art along the way.
Democratization of art as self-expression
Visual art is undoubtedly a powerful medium for self-expression, but it is far from the only one. Some of us think in images, others feel through music, and many express themselves best with words. No matter your preferred art form, there is now an AI tool that can help you bridge the skill gap or guide you in learning new creative techniques.
Art = skills + expressions
Democratized Art = skills (AI) + expressions (human)
Would you give it a try today? I invite you to embark on a journey of self-expression with me. Start by spending 5-20 minutes a day creating something: an image, a song, or a poem – it doesn’t matter.
If you feel comfortable, consider inviting friends to join you. Whether in person or online, dedicate 30-60 mins each session to create something together, leveraging AI as a tool where it helps. You could pick a theme and create different artifacts (a song, a drawing, a poem) within that theme, or simply invite each person to create whatever they feel like. Review them together. I promise you, you will have a lot of fun and make interesting discoveries about your friends and yourself.
If you wish to take it further, you could even organize a ‘Create with AI Together’ activity in your local community, much like a new book club. It’s certainly going to be beneficial for everyone to develop some basic AI skills and you could lead that charge for your community through creativity!
I should stress that the goal isn’t to turn everyone into an artist or to replace artists with AI. It’s about extending our capacity to express and bond with each other. Just imagine, if enough of us did this, we would collectively create a change in the world–a more expressive and connected world, where millions and billions of people are empowered to express themselves in rich ways anytime, anywhere. Shall we begin?
P.S. Creating your first image with AI
If you’ve never tried generating images with AI, don’t worry—it’s easier than you might think!
- Try Midjourney, DALL·E, or Adobe Firefly. It doesn’t matter which tool you pick.
- Start with a simple prompt, such as: “Make a cute picture of a Norwegian troll boy collecting mushrooms in the forest” or
“Create a picture of a misty mountain. There is a small narrow waterfall flowing down the side with two horses drinking from it”.
- Next, try adding some keywords to describe the vibe and style, like “In pastel colors” or “In a clean pencil drawing style”. I also recommend browsing images the community has created and learning from their prompts. But most importantly, just spend some time having fun!
