Is Artificial Intelligence Blocking Our Creative and Design Thinking?

The Potential Threats to Human Ingenuity

The world is experiencing an unprecedented surge in artificial intelligence. But as we embrace this technological revolution, an essential question emerges: Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) quietly diminishing our creative thinking?

In our book ‘Who Killed Creativity?… And How Can We Get It Back?’, my partner Dr Gaia Grant and I explored the worrying decline of creative thinking in adults as they age and across generations. Our research revealed that while IQ scores have steadily climbed since Alfred Binet began testing in 1904, CQ (Creative Quotient) scores have been in decline since the 1990s.

IQ gains can be attributed to the Flynn Effect, the phenomenon where enriched environments make us smarter. However, concerns have grown that CQ scores may have suffered due to the rise of the internet era.

Could AI present an even greater challenge? Once a prized leadership trait, is creative thinking now at risk of being outsourced to algorithms?

The Value of Innate Human Qualities

If we surrender our creative and critical faculties to machines, we risk losing not only our competitive edge but also the essence of what makes us uniquely human.

People with high CQ tend to be inquisitive, resilient, and open to new experiences—qualities AI cannot replicate.

Design thinking, a structured approach to innovation that thrives on empathy, exploration, and iterative problem-solving, further reinforces these distinct human strengths. While AI may streamline processes, it cannot authentically engage in these deeply human experiences. If we rely on AI to shortcut creative thinking, we risk homogenized solutions and, ultimately, stagnation.

AI can analyze patterns, but creativity and critical thinking require more than pattern recognition. When we allow AI to take the wheel, we lose the opportunity for those vital “aha!” moments that drive innovation.

AI: A Powerful Ally or a Creativity Blocker?

The appeal of AI lies in its efficiency and instant answers. Yet studies reveal a darker side: The more we depend on AI for thinking, the less we engage our own minds.

A recent study by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University found that knowledge workers who relied heavily on AI tools disengaged from critical thinking, producing less original work and falling into a cycle of dependency.

The concept of “use it or lose it” applies here. Our creative muscles weaken when we don’t exercise them. If AI use continues without intentional engagement, our ability to think creatively may erode over time—unless we challenge how we integrate AI into our creative processes.

AI itself is not the enemy of creativity. How we interact with it determines whether it becomes a barrier or an enabler. To protect CQ and sustain creative, critical, and design thinking, we must remain vigilant, intentional, and—above all—human.

Article by Andrew Grant (C) 

 

The AI Creative Challenge: How Leaders Can Stay Ahead (series)

AI is transforming the way we approach problem-solving and innovation, but where does human creativity fit in? This series of articles covers the following key areas that require investigation:

Part 1: The impact of AI on creative thinking

Part 2: Optimizing AI in creative thinking

Creative Thinking Fundamentals Keynote talks, workshops and gamified simulations

The insights from our ‘The AI Creative Challenge: How Leaders Can Stay Ahead’  series are now embedded in our latest workshops and programs.

By strategically integrating AI into the creative thinking process, individuals can accelerate insights, uncover hidden connections, and amplify ideation—while remaining active participants to ensure human creativity is not fully automated.

Who Killed Creativity? – Creative Thinking Fundamentals🔗
Creative Thinking Rescue Strategies – The Creative Process🔗

 

Who Killed Creativity and How Can We Get It Back? If AI is the new kid on the block and the 8th suspect, uncover the other seven creativity blockers in this breakthrough book. 🔗 Amazon