Join four exciting events about AI in news!
Tuesday, May 28, 12–1 p.m. EST: Join my webinar with the News Product Alliance, "Gen AI is a UX Revolution: How Do We Reimagine News Products?" Sign up here!
Thursday, May 30, 9–10 a.m. EST: Attend my "Generative AI 101 for Journalists" workshop at the AI & journalism industry roundtable hosted by Carleton University and the Canadian Association of Journalists. This workshop is available both virtually and in person. RSVP here!
Thursday, May 30, 6–7 p.m. EST: Are you in Toronto? Join the Newsroom Robots cocktail reception co-hosted with Carleton University School of Journalism at The Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals discussing AI and news. RSVP here!
Tuesday, June 4, 3–4 p.m. EST: Do you have questions about AI in the newsroom? Join my online Q&A with the Online News Association. Ask me anything live, or submit your questions in advance. Sign up here!
All the online events will be recorded and available later (but you must be registered to get the recording). See you there!
When we think about the news industry, we likely think of the dynamic roles of journalists tirelessly pursuing leads and editors meticulously crafting attention-grabbing headlines. But there's another group of unsung heroes working tirelessly behind the scenes: the designers, illustrators, and creative professionals who bring the news to life visually.
As artificial intelligence transforms industries across the board, how will it impact these crucial roles in the news industry and beyond? Will AI be a new tool in their creative arsenal, or could it potentially replace them altogether?
In this 50th episode of Newsroom Robots, I sat down with my mentor, Adrian Gill, founder and CEO of AdHoc Industries and the former Creative Director at Harvard Innovation Labs, to discuss AI's impact on the design industry and its implications for the news industry.
Adrian Gill, a seasoned professional with a diverse career, brings a unique perspective to our discussion. His experience spans from being the Vice President of the $1.8 billion Global Footwear Division at PUMA, where he led creative design direction, to serving as the Creative Director at Harvard Innovation Labs, and now as the founder and CEO of AdHoc Industries. With his extensive creative, strategy, and brand management experience, Adrian specializes in bridging the gap between business and its creative organizational goals.
During our discussion, Adrian touched upon the various ways AI can be integrated into the design workflow. From generating initial concepts and sparking new ideas to automating tedious tasks and providing fresh perspectives, AI tools like Midjourney and DALL-E have the potential to revolutionize the way designers work. As these technologies continue to evolve, they will shape the future of design and enable creatives to push the boundaries of what's possible.
One of the most compelling aspects of our conversation was the concept of AI as a creative collaborator, not a replacement. Adrian shared a fascinating example from his time at Harvard Innovation Labs, where they used the AI tool Midjourney to create unique visual representations of the finalists in the President's Innovation Challenge. By carefully guiding the model and iterating on the outputs, they were able to produce a captivating video that highlighted each finalist in a novel way. This example underscores the potential of AI to augment and enhance the creative process, rather than replace human creativity altogether.
Our discussion underscored a key point: the indispensable role of human creativity in harnessing AI for design. As Adrian put it, 'lazy inputs will result in generic outputs.' In the era of AI, designers must leverage their unique perspectives, domain expertise, and creative vision to guide the AI model and ensure the final product aligns with the brand's values, tone, and style. It's this human touch that distinguishes brands and prevents them from being lost in a sea of AI-generated sameness.
It’s the synergy between AI and human ingenuity that will truly push the boundaries of what's possible.
🎧 Listen to the full conversation available now on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and other major podcast platforms.
How AI Image Generation is Revolutionizing the Graphic Design Industry: In Conversation with Adrian Gill