Embracing the Future: My Journey with Generative AI and Building a Learning Community on Discord

I’ve always been passionate about photography, art, and communications, but over the past two decades, I’ve found myself drawn into the world of online communities and social media. This journey has led me to the doorstep of something truly revolutionary: Generative AI.

Not too long ago, I had the honor of delivering a keynote address titled “AI as Creative Partner” for the a group of architects and engineers. I was so caught up in the excitement of the Q&A and audience interaction that I totally forgot to reference my slides! They were a labor of love, featuring imagined Vancouver skylines in various near-future, sci-fi art styles. But hey, that’s the beauty of live events, right?

But my exploration of Generative AI isn’t just about theory. I’ve been getting my hands dirty, leading workshops for artists and creatives, showing them how we can use these tech tools to boost our creativity and productivity. It’s all about empowering us to enhance our artistic lives.

To share what I’ve been learning as widely as possible, I’ve put together a series of YouTube videos. Each one dives deep into how we, as artists and creatives, can harness the power of Generative AI. These aren’t just tutorials, folks. They’re a call to action. A call to embrace technology as a tool for finding and sharing our voice, connecting with our audience, and cultivating the independent life of our dreams.

I’ve also started offering professional services in Generative AI. I believe my unique blend of artistic sensibility, understanding of social media, and expertise in Generative AI can be a valuable asset to any organization looking to innovate and stay ahead of the curve.

In all my work, I’m guided by a belief that “Technology is best when it brings people together.” I’m committed to cultivating the most benevolent outcomes in humanity’s association with AI. Every action I take online is an opportunity to teach the bots to operate from a place of love. It’s a philosophy that I hope will inspire you as much as it inspires me.

One of the ways I’ve been putting this philosophy into practice is through the creation of a learning community on Discord. I wanted to learn, tinker, and experiment in a semi-public environment where I could learn from those that came before me and share what I was studying in real time with my powerful network of friends who are involved in amazing creative industries and artistic pursuits.

The channel has grown to nearly 200 peeps, all of whom I know or have met personally. We’ve got a sketchbooth for group experiments with AI, a knowledge hub, a place to share links and projects, a voice and video lounge where I hang out for a bit every day and chat with peeps.

We also have a community events calendar of interesting things going on that people are involved with or attending, and a Mutual Aid Station where we can help each other out, post requests, and share resources. It’s a vibrant, dynamic space, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together.

To dive deeper into my exploration of Generative AI, check out my YouTube playlist. And if you’re interested in joining our learning community, drop me a line! As we navigate the future of technology and art, I hope to be a guide, reminding us all of the potential for technology to not only change our world but to bring us closer together in the process.