MIT AI Risk Repository · Risk Sub-Category · 66.04.03
Loss of creativity / critical thinking
Category: Societal and Cultural
Description
"Devaluation and/or deterioration of human creativity, artistic expression, imagination, critical thinking or problem-solving skills"
From A Closer Look at the Existing Risks of Generative AI: Mapping the Who, What, and How of Real-World Incidents (Li2025), as extracted by the MIT AI Risk Repository (CC BY 4.0).
Classification
Subdomain definition: AI systems capable of creating economic or cultural value, including through reproduction of human innovation or creativity (e.g., art, music, writing, code, invention), can destabilize economic and social systems that rely on human effort. This may lead to reduced appreciation for human skills, disruption of creative and knowledge-based industries, and homogenization of cultural experiences due to the ubiquity of AI-generated content.
Real-world incidents in this subdomain
- Seedance 2.0 Reportedly Generated Viral Tom Cruise–Brad Pitt Fight Video, Prompting Hollywood IP and Likeness Complaints
- The New York Times Sued Perplexity for Allegedly Using Copyrighted Content and Generating False Attributions
- Reported Disqualification of Two Books from the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Due to Alleged AI-Generated Cover Art
- Unauthorized AI Impersonation of George Carlin Used in Comedy Special
- GAN Artwork Won First Place at State Fair Competition