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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Creativity Code summary
Marcus du Sautoy
How AI is learning to write, paint and think
25 mins
Brief summary
The Creativity Code by Marcus du Sautoy is an exploration of the role of artificial intelligence in the creative process. It highlights the ways in which machines are changing the nature of art and the potential implications for human creativity.
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The Creativity Code
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Key idea 1 of 9
Creativity is about exploring, combining and transforming existing structures to make something new.
Let’s face it: in many ways, computers are smarter than people. They can store more facts, crunch bigger numbers and they’re better at spelling. Perhaps the one thing we humans can still take solace in is our creativity. Surely a machine could never come up with a joke, compose a symphony or write a book – or could it? To answer this existential query, let’s first take a look at what we mean when we talk about creativity.
Being creative means coming up with something new, surprising and valuable. French painter Claude Monet is famous for his beautiful paintings of water lilies – but his paintings are more than just beautiful. Layering flecks upon flecks of color instead of using traditional brush strokes, Monet showed the world a new way to appreciate the interplay of light and color. This novel painting style, called impressionism, inspired generations of artists and helped pave the way from figurative to abstract art.
Just as our ideas about art have changed over the centuries, so too have our ideas of creativity constantly evolved. We often measure a creative act by how much it differs from those that have come before. Consider early twentieth-century composer Arnold Schönberg. Composers before Schönberg took for granted that a central key, or tone, was the basis for any composition. Schönberg boldly disregarded this rule to invent atonality – bringing the world unexpected listening pleasures. Cognitive scientist Margaret Boden calls this type of rule-breaking transformational creativity. Transformational creativity can completely overturn what we think is possible in a given discipline.
In addition, Boden identified two other types of creativity. She says that Monet’s work exhibits exploratory creativity – that it explores what is possible within the rules of the discipline. Monet still depicted water lilies in a figurative way, but he did so in a completely new, impressionist, manner.
Combinatorial creativity is the ability to merge structures that, on the surface, might not belong together. Contemporary architect Zaha Hadid translates her love of abstract art into impossible-looking, curvaceous buildings. The Heydar Aliyev Centre that she designed in Azerbaijan, for instance, looks less like a building than an oversized seashell. Her buildings are also a great example of the practical applications of creativity. Creativity, it turns out, isn’t just for artists.
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What is The Creativity Code about?
The Creativity Code (2019) explores the growing capabilities of artificial intelligence and its recent venture into creative fields such as art, music and literature – previously thought to be exclusively human territory. Author Marcus du Sautoy takes us on a journey from the origins of our own creativity to a future of art-making algorithms in a quest to answer the existential question: Can machines be creative?
The Creativity Code Review
The Creativity Code (2019) explores the world of artificial intelligence and its impact on human creativity. Discover why this book is well worth your time:
- Offers fascinating insights into the intersection of AI and creativity, delving into the possibilities and limitations of machines in artistic expression.
- Provides thought-provoking examples that challenge conventional notions of creativity, forcing readers to reconsider the nature of human ingenuity.
- Explores the ethical implications of AI-generated art, prompting important discussions about the future of creativity and the role of technology.
Best quote from The Creativity Code
At the moment all the creativity in machines is being initiated and driven by the human code.
—Marcus du Sautoy
Who should read The Creativity Code?
- Anyone interested in artificial intelligence
- Lovers of art, math and music
- Futurists who like to speculate about the coming union of human and machine
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The Creativity Code FAQs
What is the main message of The Creativity Code?
The main message of The Creativity Code is that AI can possess and exhibit creative abilities.
How long does it take to read The Creativity Code?
The reading time for The Creativity Code varies, but it can be read in a few hours. The Blinkist summary only takes 15 minutes.
Is The Creativity Code a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Creativity Code is worth reading as it explores the intersection of AI and creativity, providing insights and perspectives on the future of art and innovation.
Who is the author of The Creativity Code?
The author of The Creativity Code is Marcus du Sautoy.
What to read after The Creativity Code?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Creativity Code, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Deep Thinking by Garry Kasparov
- Deep Medicine by Eric Topol
- Superhuman Innovation by Chris Duffey
- The Economic Singularity by Calum Chace
- Become What You Are by Alan Watts
- Uncommon by Mark Divine
- Hyperefficient by Mithu Storoni
- The Mind's Mirror by Gregory Mone
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
- How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci by Michael J. Gelb