Throughout history, humanity has achieved extraordinary things without artificial intelligence. The pyramids. The Renaissance. The Industrial Revolution. Medical discoveries that saved millions. Literary masterpieces that moved generations. All of this innovation stemmed from uniquely human qualities: curiosity, imagination, perseverance, and the tangible act of creation. Yet now, as digital tools promise to “enhance” our creativity, we find ourselves more anxious and distracted than ever. Research has shown that excessive social media use and constant digital engagement correlate with increased anxiety and decreased well-being (Hunt et al., 2018). Perhaps the solution isn’t more technology to combat technology’s effects, but rather a deliberate step backward. To retrieve analog practices that have sustained human creativity for millennia.
