u/CTAlters

I'm an in-house mid-senior level designer/brand manager at a large business. I don't work client side and mostly design for lots of stakeholders across our rather varied business (this includes digital campaigns, print ads, exhibition stands, videos, internal templates, etc).

I've been here for nearly 6 years and the business has changed and grown, but over the last 12-18 months they have (much like everyone else) started to shoehorn AI into every space imaginable, asking us to use it to improve workflows, including it in our yearly goals, and I'm seeing more people across the business using ChatGPT to create their own slides or posters. It's my job currently to deploy some sort of guidance on how this gets managed to ensure stuff stays on brand, what is and isn't 'allowed' and ultimately try and get a reign on it as it becomes more widespread.

The trouble I'm having is that I really can't stand AI; the environmental effects weigh on me, what it's doing to our field of employment terrifys me and I constantly have this feeling of dread for what comes next. I feel like I'm being pulled in two opposite directions by having to use AI to pay my bills, but opposing it morally and it's taking a toll on my mental health.

Don't get me wrong, their are useful aspects I've found naturally make their way into my workflow; generative extend/fill in Photoshop is a godsend, object mask in premiere pro is so handy, for consolidating loads of nuggets of ideas ChatGPT can be helpful, but overall what I'm experiencing with AI Vs what the world seems to be saying is so different.

To me it feels like the emperors new clothes - nobody wants to be the one to say it sucks. And I get it, I don't wanna lose my job, it means a lot to me. But I see so many people saying "adapt or die", "if you don't get ahead of it you'll end up behind it" and "you have to constantly learn the latest tech to stay at the forefront". Is that true? How are you all adapting? Is anyone else in the same headspace as me? I'd welcome any and all thoughts on how you're all navigating it and surviving!