Urban Vine Media

by K L Williams

Before the AI Wave

When I self-published my first book, it was right before the rise of AI — and man, am I grateful I pushed myself to do it when I did.

AI has caused so much controversy and confusion around creativity and credibility that it now feels like the biggest brag to say, “I did this before AI.” Especially given the heat so many pro-AI users are facing.

Ever since I’ve known myself, I’ve loved the arts. I’ve always drawn pictures, written poetry, and told stories. It was never about fame or credit — I just loved creating.

I imagine many other creatives feel the same way, especially when they decide to turn their talents into an income. So it’s no surprise that AI has become such a sore topic for so many people.

And honestly? Sometimes, the outrage makes sense — especially when AI companies use unethical methods to gather data.

The Outrage Versus the Victories

Just a few weeks ago, writers actually won a case against an AI company that was pirating written content to train its models. That was huge. The court ruled that these companies can’t just scrape authors’ copyrighted work and feed it to their bots.

Not long before that, there was outrage when a major publishing company used an AI-generated book cover.

Tor’s romance imprint, Bramble, used an AI cover for Gothikana, and the backlash was immediate. It wasn’t just about aesthetics — it was about what that decision represented.

Another publisher, Bloomsbury, also admitted to unknowingly using an AI-generated stock image for a Sarah J. Maas novel, and people were rightfully upset.

Big companies with the resources to hire designers, editors, and illustrators should do so. That’s part of what keeps creative industries alive.

The Reality

Here’s the truth: I had fifty dollars in my bank account when I designed my book covers.

I couldn’t afford to hire a designer or even run Adobe Illustrator on my little 8 GB Lenovo — the one I scraped to buy after my last PC died.

What I did have was over a hundred strong poems, a Canva account, and a few free credits on a new AI image generator.

I’ve been designing for years, so even though I used AI for base images, I still did a ton of editing and manipulation to get my covers exactly how I wanted.

Even though I’m an art lover, I’m also a lover of technology. I like convenience, growth, and anything that makes life easier.

I’ve genuinely enjoyed watching Artificial Intelligence evolve and get smarter — and I’m not threatened by it.

The Truth About the Tools

AI is only as good as the person using it.

A skilled video editor will use it to make their work smoother or faster, while someone just experimenting will get very different results. The same applies to writing.

AI works better when it’s helping you — editing, expanding, or clarifying — not when it’s replacing you.

Honestly, I often find myself saying, “I wish I had AI years ago.”

Outside of art, I teach, and now I can write a full lesson plan, create a visual presentation, and have it ready in thirty minutes. Two years ago, that would’ve taken me weeks — and caused serious anxiety under unreasonable deadlines.

Maybe that’s why I see AI differently. It’s not a threat to me; it’s a hand extended when I need one.

The Soul of the Work

That said, I’d never make AI write a poem for me. My poems are mine — my heart, my soul, my story.

But those boring proposals? Absolutely.

And yes, I can write them myself — I taught technical writing for over two years. That’s exactly why I don’t mind letting AI handle the tedious stuff.

I’ll always outline and draft first, and I usually ask whatever model I’m using to preserve my voice and details. But instead of spending the whole day writing and editing a proposal, I’d rather spend an hour and use the rest of the day writing poetry or taking care of my family.

The Artist and the Assistant

I’m sure painters felt the same way when photography was invented. But we still appreciate a good painting.

Technology will never replace heart and soul.

That’s why I’m not afraid of it — AI is an assistant, not a replacement, and a very helpful one at that.

Imagine you’re an artist trying to sell your work. You’re moving from just creating to actually running a business. It’ll take time before you start making steady money, but you’ve got bills now.

Before, you might’ve had to work a job you hated for years to save enough to build your business.

Now, for $20 a month, you can use something like ChatGPT to help create spreadsheets, proposals, captions, contracts, and more — tasks that used to cost hundreds or even thousands to outsource.

Sure, professionals might do some of those better (though not always), but until you can afford them, AI is a blessing.

Just remember: like any assistant, you still have to review and refine its work.

Ethics and Energy

Yes, some AI users do shady things. But people have been scamming and scheming online for years.

If someone with poor grammar uses AI to write a book and sells a million copies, so be it. Keep creating your work diligently and authentically.

The greatest rewards are internal — that sense of accomplishment and knowing you did it right.

AI isn’t your enemy. People can be.

And yes, AI consumes energy and water, but let’s be real — big corporations already harm the planet to make the very devices we use every day.

Mass production has always been the true enemy of humanity. Fighting its byproducts while ignoring its roots doesn’t make much sense.

Learn the Tools, Don’t Fear Them

Even if you never plan to use AI — learn it.

It’s like typing. Once, people thought they’d never need to type, but now handwritten documents are seen as unprofessional.

If you treat AI as your enemy, it will become one.

But as artists and creatives, you actually have the upper hand.

We’re the ones with the stories, the colors, the ideas. Tech people just build tools. Yet we’re letting them profit from what we don’t understand.

Learn the tools. Use them to your advantage.

The Tragedy

The biggest issue AI has caused isn’t that it creates art — it’s that it’s buried the poet Ai, the real, human Ai, in search results.

One of the most original writers to ever live, erased from visibility by a machine that shares her name.

That’s the real tragedy.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a writer — write your heart out. Let AI handle your admin work.

If you’re a painter — paint. Let AI write your captions.

Collaborate when you can, but don’t wait forever for people who won’t show up.

Too many die waiting to “make it” or to be seen as pure artists, leaving behind nothing but struggle.

Use what’s available to you. AI isn’t your enemy.

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Kerece “Lilanie” Williams is a Jamaican poet, educator, and creative entrepreneur. She’s the author of Faith and Favour, Above Water, and Kisses and Lies — and the founder of MeowMedia Services, Write Ah Yaad, and Sincerely Lilanie. Follow her work at lilanie.com or on Instagram @kerece_lilanie.