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Amateur Intelligence: The Real AI

Christopher McHale
3 min readFeb 6, 2024

Exploring the fundamental misunderstanding of what it takes to earn a living with your creativity.

Photo by Ahmed Nishaath on Unsplash

Exploring the challenges and truths behind making a living through creative endeavors reveals a landscape filled with opportunities. But what it doesn’t include is unchecked use of AI, and I’m not sure it ever will. AI fulfills an itch in the amateur ranks, but accomplished professionals walk a different path.

The Gauntlet of High-Level Selling

At the crux of earning a living through creativity lies a formidable challenge — selling your work at the highest level. Achieving this is akin to grasping an “impossible dream”. The path to financial success in the creative realm is not just about skill or talent; it’s about reaching an echelon of recognition that is difficult to attain. The gatekeepers are not just going to disappear because AI waves a magic wand, because the gatekeepers are there for very good reasons.

Understanding Creative Gatekeepers

Those who hold the keys to success in the creative industry — editors, producers, gallery owners, agents, publishers, etc. — are on the lookout for specific qualities. Originality and what could be termed “greasy thinking” — a slick…

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Christopher McHale
Christopher McHale

Written by Christopher McHale

Chris is the CCO of Studio Jijiji and writes about creativity, culture, technology, music, and writing. www.christophermchale.com, www.studiojijiji.io

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