From Algorithm to Autonomy: What AI Can Do for Artists

The rapid rise of AI raises many questions, not least among artists and makers, about ethics, autonomy, and especially about what it means for creativity. For Marijke Hessels, tech dramaturg and researcher in the cultural sector, AI is not a threat but a new tool in the artist’s toolkit – one that can especially support the creative process.

How can theatre makers or artists use AI (Artificial Intelligence) to deepen and optimize their creative process? It’s a question Marijke Hessels has been exploring for some time. She identifies three main ways this new technology can be applied in the (performing) arts: as an office or administrative assistant, as a subject or opponent on stage, and as an accelerator and support tool within the creative process. It’s in the latter that she sees much untapped potential.

“Right now, the focus is mostly on using AI in the office — as a sparring partner when writing grant applications or making notes during meetings. That’s super useful, because let’s face it, we can be quite chaotic in this sector. As long as you preserve your own tone of voice, you can absolutely use AI for writing tasks and such.”

“What’s missing is the application of AI as a collaborative partner in the creative process”

“The other side —AI on stage— is often met with some hesitation. In the end, it’s up to makers to decide whether or not to put AI in the spotlight, for instance to generate visuals or even write a script. There are already many beautiful examples of this. But I think we’re missing an important in-between application: AI as a creative partner in the making process.”

For Hessels, the value of AI lies not so much in the final product, but in what comes before. “I think for many makers it’s interesting as a tool to speed things up or support the early development of ideas. You can quickly make something visual, set a tone, or build a prototype. You have an idea in your head — for a poster, a soundtrack, a stage design. With AI you can generate a first impression or mood board, making it easier to explain your concept to a professional, like a set designer, who can then help you create exactly what you envisioned. That’s different from using AI to create a finished artwork. Very often, you see AI either being rejected entirely or used only for final output, but there’s a lot of power in that middle space.”

Scripting tools are another good example. “Thanks to tools like Cursor, there’s now a new phenomenon called vibe coding. It basically means you tell an AI chatbot what your application should do, and it writes the code, for example for your website or game, without you needing much technical knowledge.”

Using AI in this way can help create a more level playing field. “Especially for makers with limited budgets or access to resources, this can be a real game-changer. Developing prototypes with a full team takes a huge amount of time and money. If you can use AI as a shared language to communicate ideas faster, it can help you save both. You can quickly create something tangible to present to funders or potential partners, which might help you scale up.”

“It always starts with a human perspective, a human idea — and it ends there too, because art comes from human experience. But in between, to give shape to those initial concepts, AI can offer a lot of value.”

“The greatest danger is that we overestimate AI and underestimate ourselves.”

At the same time, Hessels emphasizes the importance of understanding the technology. “People often assume that AI is neutral or objective. But how you use and train it matters a great deal. It reflects your assumptions and decisions. If you’re not aware of that, you might end up creating something you didn’t intend at all.”

She believes makers can benefit from a better understanding of how AI works, what tools are available, and what their limitations are. “At its core, AI is just another technology. We’ve been using tech to enhance ourselves for centuries, from the moment we picked up a hammer, to inventing glasses, to the arrival of smartphones. After that last breakthrough, things were quiet for a while. That’s why the rapid development of AI is hitting so hard now. It helps to get a grip on it. What’s actually happening? What do all these buzzwords mean? What is a language model, what’s an API and what can you do with them?”

Hessels considers it essential that artists don’t shy away from the technology, but instead explore it, understand it, and learn to work with it, risks included. She sums it up with a quote inspired by sociologist Siri Beerends:
“The greatest danger is that we overestimate AI and underestimate ourselves.”

Want to explore this topic further? Read the blog AI as a partner in the performing arts.