Dr. Savitri Kunze, Associate Professor of History, recently joined colleagues from across campus for a lively interdisciplinary panel titled “Human-Centered Creativity in an AI World.” Moderated by Rob Green from the Department of Computer Science, the conversation brought together faculty from diverse creative fields: Lucas Ostrowski, (Department of Theatre and Film), Divya S (School of Media and Communication), and Charles Tucker (School of Art) in addition to Dr. Kunze and Dr. Rob Green. Talking to a full room in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, panelists explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping the creative process, from accelerating learning and offering new tools to collaborating as a “co-creator” in artistic and scholarly work. Yet, they also raised thoughtful concerns about AI’s potential to manipulate truth, produce “hallucinated” results, and overshadow the human element of creativity.

Despite these challenges, the panelists agreed that AI cannot replace the soul, lived experience, and “unexpected, messy” aspects that define human creativity. Each discipline brought its own historical relationship to tools and innovation. The various faculty members emphasized that while AI can simplify tasks like writing or brainstorming, it remains just one instrument among many. The discussion encouraged participants to engage critically with AI—acknowledging its contributions without stigmatizing its use—and to continue nurturing the human spark that drives discovery and art at BGSU.