People Are Hallucinating Over AI, Missing the Real Point

I see people losing their minds over AI tools, convinced they’ll replace designers, artists, and creatives. Blah, blah, blah. Every time a new technology arrives, the same cycle repeats. Fear spreads, mostly fueled by people who have never put in the time to truly understand their craft. They just consume whatever’s trending on social media, jumping on the latest shiny thing without ever digging deeper. It’s the Dunning-Kruger effect on full display. Maybe I sound harsh, but the fear-mongering from half-informed opinions is getting out of hand.

So, let’s step back and look at history. This has all happened before.

Take graphic design as an example. Before computers, design was a slow, hands-on craft. Every step, from choosing type to arranging images, required deep expertise. Designers spent years mastering typography, composition, and colour because there were no shortcuts. Mistakes were expensive, and every piece had to be carefully planned before it was printed. (If you want to know more about it, watch: Graphic Means Documentary)

Then came the 1980s, and desktop publishing changed everything. Suddenly, anyone could set type, move elements around, and experiment at the click of a button. It was revolutionary. It unlocked incredible new creative possibilities, but it also flooded the industry with bad design. The barrier to entry had dropped, and with it came a wave of people who lacked the foundational knowledge of the craft. The industry didn’t die, it evolved. The best designers adapted, using new tools to work smarter and faster.

Now, we’re at the next big shift: AI-powered design tools. Just like computers transformed design decades ago, AI is changing it again. These tools can generate layouts, suggest colour palettes, and even create entire compositions in seconds. And just like before, we’re seeing an evolution. AI is unlocking exciting new creative possibilities while making it easier for people with no design knowledge to explore their creativity. With the tool no longer being a barrier, some will produce great work, pushing the boundaries of design, while many will flood the space with low-quality, uninformed creations.

The reality? AI won’t replace designers, but it will redefine the role. The best designers will use AI as a tool, just like they adapted to desktop publishing, to work faster, explore new ideas, and push creative boundaries. Meanwhile, an even bigger flood of mediocre work will hit the internet, making real expertise more valuable than ever.

Technology always evolves, but one thing stays the same: good design isn’t about the tools, it’s about the thinking behind them. AI is just the next tool in the kit. Adapt, learn, and use it wisely.