A Phenomenological Exploration of Creativity, Authenticity, and Identity in Digital Artists’ Experiences with Artificial Intelligence
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Abstract
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into creative practices has reshaped contemporary art and design, challenging traditional notions of originality and authorship. This study explores the lived experiences of digital artists, focusing on how they negotiate creativity and identity amid technological disruption. While prior research has addressed AI’s technical and cultural roles, limited attention has been given to artists’ phenomenological interpretations of creativity when engaging with AI tools. Using an interpretative phenomenological approach, data from semi-structured interviews with twelve digital artists were analyzed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The findings highlight four key themes: (1) confronting authenticity threats, (2) navigating resistance and adaptation, (3) redefining creativity as a dialogical process, and (4) reconstructing professional identity in the digital era. Overall, AI is experienced not only as a disruptive force but also as a catalyst for transformation, enabling a collaborative interplay between human imagination and algorithmic systems. These insights advance understanding of how emerging technologies reshape the meanings of creativity and identity, offering implications for future studies on human–AI collaboration across creative disciplines.
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