As I explore the rise of generative AI, I’ve come to realize it’s triggering a cognitive revolution in how I create content. It challenges traditional workflows and demands a complete shift in my approach to creative work—it’s not just about learning new tools, but rethinking my entire mindset.
What we’re witnessing in content creation is a shift happening at the cognitive level—a fundamental change in how we approach the creative process, not merely a new tool or technique. Generative AI is both powerful and disruptive, and it challenges traditional workflows that often require mastery across multiple domains—be it sound engineering, scriptwriting, or UX design.
Instead of needing deep knowledge in every production step, generative AI demands that we condense and articulate the core intent up front. Imagine having to strip a complex idea down to its bare essentials, like reducing a movie to just a logline that tells you everything you need to know. It’s a lot like first principles thinking—breaking down a concept to its most fundamental components and then building it back up.
For example, in a recent project, I had to describe a tool in just three or four sentences—a task that forced me to:
The AI then took that core insight and turned it into a tangible workflow, visualized and ready to iterate on. It’s a different mental discipline compared to the traditional approach, where creators may get lost in the details of every production step. With generative AI, you keep your focus sharp—on vision and intent—so that the creative energy stays alive, without the burden of executing every technical task yourself.
To better transition to specific examples of how this cognitive shift manifests, let’s explore how workflows and tool mastery come into play. Using generative AI isn’t about just learning a new tool; it’s about creating a workflow that maximizes each tool’s unique strengths. For example, I use Midjourney and Ideogram for initial image generation, and then Krea and Magnific AI for refining and upscaling. Each tool serves a distinct purpose, and being able to curate a toolkit—knowing when to use which tool and why—is essential for achieving high-quality outcomes. The tools are evolving quickly, and so must we. The real power of AI isn’t in the tools themselves; it’s in your ability to guide them—shaping, refining, and combining different parts into a cohesive, impactful whole.
On iterative explorations; Take my tarot card project, for example. I wanted to create a visually consistent yet individually unique deck. DALL-E 3 had the exact visual style I was after, so even though it was slower compared to Midjourney, I chose it because it matched my vision. Each card had its own unique composition and symbolism, and to achieve this, every text prompt had to be meticulously prepared, tested, and iterated upon. This often meant generating 50-150 images to get each card just right. This project was a classic case of balancing speed versus artistry. Yes, Midjourney would have been faster, but DALL-E 3 provided the specific quality I was looking for. Sometimes, it’s not about how quickly you can finish a project; it’s about staying true to the vision and putting in the time to get it right.
To better illustrate the differences between traditional and generative AI-driven content creation workflows, consider the following visual representation:
Building on these practical workflows, it’s crucial to understand how our entire mindset around creativity needs to adjust to accommodate these new processes. And it’s indeed a 180-degree shift from traditional approaches:
Having established the importance of maintaining the core vision, let’s look at how we adapt our cognitive approach and practical methods to fit this new creative paradigm. The biggest challenge with generative AI lies at the cognitive level—changing how we think and how we approach creativity. This shift can feel unsettling, especially for those of us used to traditional workflows that are more linear and detail-heavy. Instead of taking a step-by-step journey, AI encourages an outcome-first approach:
Once we recognize the shift in mindset, another key aspect is maintaining the integrity of the core idea throughout complex creative projects. One of the biggest challenges in traditional creative processes—especially when working on complex projects like music production or UX design—is maintaining the core narrative, the guiding vision that ties everything together. It’s easy to lose sight of your original idea when you’re switching hats constantly—jumping from producing to mixing, or from designing to coding, each requiring different mental skillsets.
Generative AI helps maintain this objectivity. It keeps your core vision intact while handling some of the execution details. It’s like having a creative assistant who handles the repetitive bits, allowing you to keep your focus on the big picture and on how each piece fits within that larger vision. You can iterate quickly, test variations, and see a version of your outcome much sooner—without getting bogged down in every small decision. AI keeps the core narrative visible, allowing you to refine without losing your place in the creative journey.
Beyond adapting processes, leveraging synthesis and context becomes vital—these are the superpowers that humans bring to AI-driven creativity. In this new landscape, synthesis and understanding context are emerging as crucial creative skills. It’s not enough to just know how to use tools; you need to connect the dots—to see patterns, to create meaning, and to bring everything together cohesively. Generative AI can generate components, but it’s the human ability to synthesize that adds depth and significance.
In my own work, synthesis often begins with a blank canvas—gathering insights, grouping them, trying out different arrangements until something clicks. Whether it’s visual styles, interview findings, or symbolic concepts, it’s about constantly arranging and rearranging elements until the story makes sense. This is also where context comes in—understanding the context helps determine how each piece should be arranged for maximum impact. Generative AI can offer initial ideas, but it’s the synthesis and contextual understanding that make the real magic happen.
The essence of generative AI lies in collaboration—where AI augments human creativity rather than replacing it. This partnership allows creatives to shift their focus from repetitive, technical execution to high-level ideation and exploration. By collaborating with AI, we are effectively extending our creative toolkit to include not only traditional tools and techniques but also intelligent systems capable of generating, iterating, and refining content.
This collaboration isn’t a one-way street; it’s about active participation. AI provides the rapid generation of ideas, but it’s our role as creatives to direct, filter, and shape these ideas to meet our vision. The magic lies in how we interact with what the AI generates—by enhancing, reimagining, and synthesizing it into something uniquely human.
Generative AI opens new doors for creativity by offering multiple perspectives at lightning speed, thereby expanding the scope of what’s possible. We can test different styles, experiment with iterations, and refine ideas without the constraint of traditional linear workflows. This approach accelerates the creative process and encourages a more fluid, experimental mindset.
Ultimately, collaborative creativity is about embracing unpredictability. With AI by our side, we have to learn to value the unexpected. The creative journey is no longer strictly under our control, but that unpredictability brings new opportunities for inspiration. The future of creativity is not AI versus human—it’s AI and human working in synergy. Together, we are capable of pushing the boundaries of imagination, innovating in ways that were previously unimaginable.
This shift isn’t just about new tools—it’s about breaking old habits and adopting a completely new way of thinking. The traditional ways we’ve learned to approach creativity are being upended, and this is both an internal and external journey. For many, finding this new way forward will be challenging, as it requires us to not only learn new tools but also to rewire our brains to adapt to a new reality.
The cognitive shift demands new skill sets—ones that focus less on linear processes and more on intent, adaptability, and AI collaboration. It’s about embracing ambiguity, leaning into iteration, and redefining what it means to create. The new creative toolbox is full of unexpected and evolving tools, but the biggest change lies within our own capacity to think differently, to adapt, and to thrive in a reality where AI plays an active role in creativity.
This text was created based on a discussion about the creative shift in content creation using generative AI tools. The insights shared here were developed collaboratively through a dialogue, incorporating work-related examples and iterative refinement. The conversation took place between me(Michael Käppi) and with ChatGPT-4o with Canvas, leveraging its canvas feature to explore these topics interactively, resulting in this post that captures both practical and conceptual shifts in creative work.
DeepState Empire brings a haunting, dystopian edge to the world of metal music. With deep, pulsing beats, pushy guitars and an eerie soundscape, their tracks confront themes of societal control, disillusionment, and the echoes of voices lost in the digital age. Each track invites you to explore a different dimension of a world slipping into the “idiocracy” they narrate.
DeepState Empire is a fictional creation, brought to life through a collaboration between myself and the GenAI tool; Udio 130 v.1.50 (on a 48kHz sample rate). This project serves as an exploration of how AI-driven music tools can craft compelling narratives and powerful sonic worlds. I created DeepState Empire not just for the listening experience but as a means to evaluate the quality and performance of GenAI music tools. I try to apply a light-weighted, generalized variant of the 5-point music analysis method to examining how well the AI captures the distinctive elements that define each genre and style. The evaluation result is addressed for the collection and not for the individual tracks.
Sound Design: In general, Udio truly excelled in creating rich, atmospheric stereo soundscapes. Each track varies in the sound changes, character, space & volume. One some of the songs the panning’s and stereo width was used effectively between song parts and instruments, which created a richer variation of the arrangement and composition. Especially needed as this gener is kind of a challenge when it comes to mixing, due the number of instruments fighting over the same frequency span. In that aspect, I’m still stunned that the AI can create this kind of results. The guitar sound on some of the songs is truly amazing. “Idiocracy” was created as a remix of an older track and apparently, somehow, the second takes get lesser sound quality. This has been my experience, lately.
Genre Adherence: Udio recognized the typical variations between parts associated with this type of geners; half-time tempo & double-kicks switches, strong bridges and other attributes. Not so much long guitar solo and occasionally there where some guitar riffing intros that had a couple of hickups. Not so perfect, but somewhat a milder hickup could actually be realifing and add a bit of authentism to the whole experience. Sometimes I wonder if the common listener even hears this?
Emotional Impact: For the most of the songs, they had strong, dynamical voices and used them dramaturgically togheter with the lyrics. The lyrics that was prompted here was meant to be more emotional to give better push opportunities for the song dynamics. This song collection contains a lot of good voice takes, as this gener is very demanding on delivery power & dynamic vocals to be true worthy.
Melodic Variation: In this collection I can say that it took like 500 songs to find good enough material. Udio feels a little weak on this part compared to others. But they “rule” on all other parts when it comes to this music gener.
Arrangement Complexity: Some structural elements still fels repetitive, with limited experimentation in rhythm and transitions, resulting in tracks that could feel predictable over time. But when it comes to variations on a song, then Udio is the best tool so far. Sometimes you get result that you really expected at all. “Idiocracy” had strong elements of Eurovision influences in choruses as the bridge parts mixed with Whitesnake-like verse riffs. “As we all keep falling” strongly reminds me of a Nickelback sound and the use of stereo-widening vocals.
Expressive Nuance: It feels like Udio has a better understanding on what’s important. They favor the importance of vocals as it is louder than other compatitors. This probably increases dynamics and balances the mixes better so the limiter/clipper doesn’t cracks up the output. But one big issue that I can see on the current Udio model version is that it has problems with the timing on vocals. Sometimes it feels that coming late between verses and chorus parts and it in general unsynchronized. Something you could fixed with stems afterwards. I think this is the biggest challenge for Udio just now.
The exploration of DeepState Empire has really giving me a glimpse into how well AI can emulate the core elements of genre and style. Worth mention is that the aim of this music album was to have conceptual approach. The creation of lyrics, logotype, together with expressive images that took some time to complete. This because I wanted to show how powerful ALL PARTS ARE for the whole experience as it makes the package complete. This work was for pure fun & pleasure, as I learned a lot doing it!
ArtPopies revives the soul of early 70s art pop and progressive rock, echoing the experimental spirit of legends like David Bowie, Genesis, and Yes. Their music explores cosmic themes, emotional introspection, and transcendent journeys that bridge the personal with the surreal. With layered instrumentation, ethereal melodies, and lyrics that hint at the mysteries of existence, ArtPopies pulls listeners into a world that feels both timeless and otherworldly.
ArtPopies is a fictional creation, brought to life through a collaboration between myself and AI. This project is a musical experiment designed to test the boundaries of AI-driven music tools. By drawing inspiration from the evocative sounds & themes of early art pop & progressive rock, I created ArtPopies not only as an homage to this genre but also to evaluate the quality and performance of GenAI music tools. Each track is analyzed using a 5-point technique, assessing how well the AI captures the distinct qualities that define art pop & progressive rock. AI tool: Udio v.1.5 (48kHz Sample Rate)
Genre Adherence: The AI captures the essence of 70s art pop and progressive rock remarkably well, incorporating lush melodies and complex arrangements that nod to the genre’s iconic structure.
Atmosphere & Soundscape: Tracks like “Cosmic haze” excel in creating a cosmic, immersive soundscape that transports listeners beyond the ordinary. I was kind of perplexed that it brought the icons key changes, from major to minor between verse and pre-chorus as some odd back/offbeats.
Melodic Depth: High scores in melodic intricacy and emotional impact, especially in conveying the introspective and cosmic themes characteristic of classic art pop and prog rock.
Dynamic Variation: The AI could benefit from more varied dynamics to evoke the ebb and flow typical of progressive rock compositions. It was hard to get good reslults but in general I’m really supprised that it actually pulled this off.
Expressive Detail: Certain subtle elements, like the expressive nuances of analog instruments, are less pronounced, which slightly diminishes the authenticity.
Lyrical Ambiguity: While the lyrics evoke themes of cosmic exploration, they sometimes lack the layered ambiguity and poetic depth that define the genre’s most iconic tracks.
ArtPopies offers a look at how GenAI can interpret the foundational elements of a genre while leaving room for growth in expressive depth. Through this project, tested against the 5-point technique, we can see both the potential and the limitations of AI in recreating the essence of an era.
FunQmatic is all about the groove, blending the raw energy of funk with nu-disco beats and a dash of trap influence. Inspired by the likes of Jamiroquai, The Motet, and The Allergies, FunQmatic takes listeners on a rhythmic journey through catchy basslines, syncopated beats, and infectious hooks that get under your skin. With an unapologetically urban sound and a playful nod to classic funk, each track feels like a sonic invitation to get moving. Their music is fresh yet nostalgic, embodying the energy of the streets and the soul of the funk era.
FunQmatic is a fictional group, born out of a creative experiment with AI and designed to explore the boundaries of AI-driven music production. This project isn’t just about crafting tracks—it’s about testing how well GenAI tools can capture the essence of Nu-Disco grooves and funk. Through FunQmatic, I’m putting AI music tools to the test, evaluating them on a 5-point technique to see how they handle genre-specific rhythm, mood, and lyrical flow. AI tool: Udio v.1.5 (48kHz Sample Rate)
Rhythm & Groove: The AI shines in delivering tight, infectious rhythms, especially in tracks like “Let’s Go” and “Keep it Real,” where the basslines and beats hit hard and feel authentic.
Genre Fusion: Excellent at blending funk, nu-disco and hip-hop elements with a hint of modern trap, giving the music a fresh twist while staying true to its funky roots.
Energy & Flow: High scores in capturing the energetic flow typical of classic funk and nu-disco, especially in the track “Feel the Beat Trap,” which delivers a head-bopping groove.
Instrumental Depth: The AI occasionally lacks the live instrument feel that gives funk its organic edge, leading to a sound that sometimes feels overly digital.
Dynamic Variability: Some sections could use more variation and dynamic shifts to fully capture the highs and lows typical of live funk performances.
Lyrical Complexity: While the lyrics fit well with the rhythm, they occasionally lack the layered storytelling and subtle wit often found in funk and hip-hop.
FunQmatic highlights both the achievements and the growing edges of GenAI music tools. With a solid foundation in rhythm and style, it’s a reminder of how close AI is to capturing the soul of groove-driven music. Each track invites you to move and reflect on the evolving world of AI in music.
Derailed Ingrid channels the gritty, pulsing energy of the UK dance scene. Drawing from the sounds of garage, house, and a touch of breakbeat, Derailed Ingrid fuses hypnotic rhythms, deep basslines, and atmospheric synths to create tracks that feel like a late-night journey through London’s underground clubs. Inspired by artists like The Prodigy, Underworld, and Massive Attack, their music takes listeners on a sonic adventure through the heartbeat of UK dance culture. Each track is a nod to the raw, euphoric energy that defines the scene.
Derailed Ingrid is a fictional group crafted through a blend of AI-driven music tools and creative experimentation. This project dives deep into the roots of UK dance music, examining how well AI can replicate the defining elements of the genre. Through Derailed Ingrid, I’ve been testing GenAI’s capabilities in producing genre-authentic beats, grooves, and atmosphere, using a 5-point analysis to assess the AI’s performance in capturing this unique sound. AI tool: Udio v.1.5 (48kHz Sample Rate)
Rhythmic Authenticity: The AI nails the characteristic UK garage and house rhythms, especially in tracks like “Under Your Spell,” delivering a syncopated groove that drives each beat forward.
Atmosphere & Mood: Tracks such as “Ignorant Bliss” excel at creating the atmospheric, sometimes gritty vibe of underground clubs, with layered synths and ambient effects that feel immersive.
Bassline Groove: High marks for bassline design, as the deep, resonant lows in “Humpty Bumpty” add a pulsing drive that’s essential to the UK dance scene.
Dynamic Build-Up: Some tracks could benefit from more dramatic rises and drops to enhance the dance floor energy typical of UK house and breakbeat.
Expressive Subtlety: While the AI captures the rhythm well, it occasionally misses the nuanced transitions and modulations that bring human expression to electronic music.
Vocal Integration: Though atmospheric, some of the vocal samples feel repetitive and lack the edgy, almost rebellious tone that defines UK underground vocals.
Derailed Ingrid stands as a testament to how close GenAI is to capturing the essence of a genre as intricate as UK dance. Through the lens of a 5-point evaluation, this project reveals both the strengths and areas where AI can evolve. Each track takes you deeper into the rhythmic pulse of the scene.
