AI artist Mick Mahler has a counterintuitive take: the more powerful the machines get, the less the technology actually matters. Showing delightful examples of his own art, from jazz-playing spiders to a Kafka-inspired beetle film, he explains how you can use new technology to serve your vision (not replace it). (Recorded at TEDNext 2025 on November 10, 2025)
Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:
Follow TED!
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
Facebook:
X:
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.
Watch more:
TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at
#TED #TEDTalks #AI
@justabeardAK
July 27, 2026 at 11:47 am
There are many possible downsides and very real dangers that could come with AI, as a tool for creativity is not one of them.
@jenex7623
July 27, 2026 at 12:44 pm
@justabeardAK how is it not one
Art has been one of the first ways of human communication it has evolved along side the human race and can show history..the human emotion and can say what sometimes the mouth can’t
The world won’t end because of a.i art but just because something isn’t going to end the world doesn’t mean it isn’t a problem
Art..dance laughter things like these are part of the human experience..replacing it with hallow versions of itself is like replacement part of the human spirit
We are the only creatures known so far in the universe to be able to express things through art..and to just throw that away because a random a.i could produce it would be very sad
The world isn’t all about profit and gain..life has more meaning outside of money
Art is important
And I think a.i taking away a part of our humanity is a real danger
@justabeardAK
July 27, 2026 at 1:04 pm
@jenex7623 It’s not a threat to art, it’s a tool to be explored and used. Something art has always done when a new technology has come along. We’ve asked questions of it, learned from it and been all the richer for it. History has example after example of fear-mongering over new technologies, and while I accept, as I stated, this comes with other, new dangers, as a creative tool, it is something to be played with.
@_rhapsodist
July 27, 2026 at 3:05 pm
It’s the exact opposite of creativity you dummy
@justabeardAK
July 27, 2026 at 3:54 pm
@_rhapsodist No, it’s a tool.
@jenex7623
July 27, 2026 at 6:29 pm
@justabeardAK I can’t in good faith call it art
Art has intent and meaning behind it..prompts don’t
And if you use a.i tools in the art it’s taking away some meaning from it making it less meaningful..hence y it’s called a.i slop
@eddiegreenheart
July 27, 2026 at 11:52 am
Create ❌
Generate ✔️
@MDTALKIES
July 27, 2026 at 11:55 am
Great video 🎉
@sdhappyprince
July 27, 2026 at 12:01 pm
This Ted Talk 🦜 itself is SLOP
@hhale
July 27, 2026 at 12:01 pm
Some of you aren’t getting that AI is just a tool.
@terpcj
July 27, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Sturgeon’s Law: 90% of _everything_ is crud. It’s the ten percent that isn’t crud that is important
@dianatermine2318
July 27, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Nice vids 🎉
@michaelsnyder6665
July 27, 2026 at 1:08 pm
The best thing about AI is that it replaces the unique and meaningful output of the best artists and designers with low cost slop, and leaves the tedious, dangerous and menial labor for humans. That’s the best part. The rest is all worse.
@SwedishGameDeveloper
July 27, 2026 at 1:26 pm
Your AI slop is just as much slop as others AI slop. You thinking it is different doesn’t change that.
@narrativegatherer3128
July 27, 2026 at 1:33 pm
Creating with the head, Generating with the AI.
@mysticavengers2885
July 27, 2026 at 1:33 pm
It’s easier not to use generative AI at all.
@NitrileGloves-1
July 27, 2026 at 2:49 pm
Thanks for sharing your useless opinion, keyboard expert
@adastrizzy
July 27, 2026 at 1:38 pm
Ah yes gaslighting a TED audience into believing you actually put effort into your „creations“ and trying to differentiate it from slop. This is a sorry excuse and an insult to all filmmakers in the world who are true masters of their craft and art (!). And the best: everyone can become a filmmaker if they really wanted to. Becoming good at something and creating good results requires effort! And this AI hype goes completely against this. The one rule all of these „creators“ obey to: minimal effort = maximal output = maximal profit. I find this to be soulless and a very sorry existence. I think this wave will pass and the real human creations and products will remain!!
@TioAe
July 27, 2026 at 1:46 pm
ai IS THEFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🤬
@LaurenceLvideos
July 27, 2026 at 2:10 pm
From the title alone, I thought this was a video about hope and soul. How in this sea filled with AI slop, any real form of art made by a human has even more value than ever before. How the best way to stand out is to be genuine, to simply create from within.
This video ended up being disappointing. Nobody who uses AI to create can be an artist as they lack what matters most. They only intend to get results, but they forget that often the most fun and fulfilling part of art is the process itself.
Don’t tell me they are still artist as they are simply using tools, making them the same as any digital artist, painters etc. No. If you take the graphic tablet away from a digital artist, they still can draw with a sheet of paper and a pencil. If you take a modern camera away from a photographer, they still know how to capture colors, frame great compositions etc even with an older camera model. If you take AI away from Ai “artists”, well, they have nothing.
Artists are not gatekeeping art by the way. Art is more accessible than ever before with its infinite library of tutorials out there. It’s in every people’s reach. And in this landfilled of AI slop, even a beginner artist can have a chance cause they have a real human voice, therefore something to say.
The biggest service you can do to yourself is to not underestimate your ability in learning a skill. Respect your own intelligence, be kind to yourself and to others and make art. This, this is how you will stand out.
@I_Davey
July 27, 2026 at 2:12 pm
“Don’t make AI slop” – makes AI slop 😭
@ooppddrr
July 27, 2026 at 2:18 pm
Artists can create a masterpiece by manipulating their organic natural environment. AI cannot.
@thepuma77
July 27, 2026 at 8:32 pm
@ooppddrr robotics with a paint brush
@cosmicwitness3390
July 27, 2026 at 2:42 pm
I don’t understand this blind hatred towards AI. It’s like a bunch of people who don’t really understand how the technology works (repeating something your favorite YouTuber told you doesn’t count) are just frothing at their mouths and preaching about how useless it is when people in the real world are already creating economic value with it. It’s a tool and under the direction of a creative person it can have amazing output across the hard sciences and the arts. If you can’t get it to produce something of high value then that’s on you, I’ve already seen it produce high value work and some of the best and brightest people on the planet are embracing it
@cosmicwitness3390
July 27, 2026 at 2:45 pm
It’s just another that people use to express themselves in the arts and to solve problems in the sciences. Ask any mathematician, programmer or researcher at the edge of their craft. What AI produces is a reflection of the person steering it towards that output. Creative and intelligent people have higher value output than those who aren’t: as has always been. With the added benefit enabling people who otherwise wouldn’t to express themselves in new ways
@Fable-Frontiers
July 27, 2026 at 2:45 pm
The genie is out of the bottle. No amount of bitching will put it back in. It is our new reality. It doesn’t matter what I think about it or what you think about it..
@Unexpaix
July 27, 2026 at 3:31 pm
Garbage video, explaining a garbage take, by person that generates garbage.
@MehmetSanır-q7k2c
July 27, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Regardless of how sophisticated technological tools become, the true uncopyable spark remains human intellect, consciousness, and intent. Algorithms and machines are merely instruments; the capacity for true artistic vision and contemplation directly reflects the unique consciousness bestowed upon humanity by the Creator.
@gojames1239
July 27, 2026 at 5:24 pm
👎👎👎
@thibaultmol
July 27, 2026 at 6:31 pm
I had to check the comment section to make sure that wasn’t the only one seeing the irony in this presentation.
@kwss58112
July 27, 2026 at 6:39 pm
It’s difficult for me to understand how people can use the AI
@maureengrimason417
July 27, 2026 at 7:06 pm
AI art is not real art
@sallyshoemaker2225
July 27, 2026 at 7:58 pm
You mean Mick Mahler the fake artist that needs to ride on the laurels of actual artists. Mick Mahler the fake artist that deserves to be a footnote of what not to do in Art History. Mick Mahler the pretender. Mick Mahler the wanna be artist. Mick Mahler that is so completely and utterly pathetic that he has to pretend to be an artist by typing key words and phrases into a prompt to make pathetic art. That Mick Mahler? Yeah don’t know him and frankly I hope he gets sued for copyright infringement once the courts catch up to this copy right loophole.