Earlier this summer, Saviesa hosted a panel at the House of Cartoons in Zagreb. It brought together artists, designers, entrepreneurs, and technologists to discuss a relevant and complex question:
Is there a creative resistance emerging in response to AI?
The discussion, rooted in Croatia’s history of artistic innovation and resistance, quickly moved beyond the idea of “man versus machine”. Instead, participants described an evolving relationship. They see AI more as a tool than a rival. When used correctly, it can improve human creativity, especially in the early stages of idea generation and prototyping.
However, concerns about authenticity, authorship, and the emotional impact of machine-generated work still exist. One participant pointed out, “Art is not merely an output—it is a process, a journey shaped by memory, intuition, and lived experience”;
Therefore, no matter how sophisticated AI becomes, the human story stays central to the creative process.
The panellists agreed on one key change: in a world where AI handles execution, human art direction becomes the new creative strength. The ability to shape, guide, and curate AI tools is now more important than technical production skills. Creativity is not only about the hand; it’s also about the eye, intent, and values behind the work.
This event was not just a discussion but a call to action for educators, policymakers, and creators. As the white paper concludes: “Whether AI is to be resisted or celebrated, it remains central to the creative narrative of our time. AI certainly fits that brief”
