Is "AI" a Four Letter Word?

A creative’s perspective on AI, ethics, and the fight for control

What You'll Get From This Newsletter

Render & Reason is for 3D artists, animators, VFX specialists, and game creators who feel intrigued, conflicted, or concerned about the rapid rise of AI technologies within our industries. Whether you're cautiously curious about AI, worried about ethical implications, or simply feeling left behind by the fast pace of new developments, this newsletter is designed specifically for you. So let’s dive in…

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“Is this real life?” It feels surreal to talk about technology that could soon help cure cancer or just as easily fortify dictatorships. As creators, we can’t simply hope AI will be built with our best interests in mind. We need real conversations today about AI’s impact on Animation, VFX, and Games, how to mitigate risks, and actively shape the future by developing ethical tools and workflows.

My journey with AI started practically. Initially, it was just a faster way to write Blueprints in Unreal Engine and rapidly prototype ideas to me back into the engine as quickly as possible. The more I explored AI, the more I saw its unprecedented potential. At no other time in human history have we had this much access to knowledge as individuals. It felt both exciting and problematic in equal measure. In case you were wondering, to this day I have never profited from using AI tools…It has been a journey often motivated by education.

If you do the same, you’ll find that you’ll quickly hit limitations *cue the “dun dun dunnnnn” effect (the real one, not AI generated one). AI consistently lacks the nuanced artistry crucial for animation. Animators spend decades mastering appeal, squash and stretch, anticipation, and exaggeration. It isn’t about “weights and biases” anymore. These qualities aren’t technical alone. They’re emotional, intuitive, and fundamentally human. Animators won’t be replaced by AI because the craft is deeply rooted in creative expression.

Side note: Isn’t it ironic that one of animation’s foundational books is titled The Illusion of Life? 😣

Then there’s the ethical side. Artists have seen their work blatantly stolen to train AI without consent or compensation, all to boost corporate profits. Intellectual property, central to creative industries, has become more complicated and uncertain due to AI. Without clear governance, creators may hesitate to collaborate with studios unable or unwilling to protect their IP. If we don’t urgently address this, beloved IP like Peanuts or Ice Age (yes, I may be biased) might simply stop being created. If studios won’t protect IP, why would anyone trust them with it?

So why am I starting Render & Reason?

AI isn’t a distant threat; it’s already reshaping animation, VFX, and gaming. Former and current studio execs are launching AI-driven startups, changing the creative landscape overnight.

Creators need to deeply understand AI technology to implement it ethically. My motivation is simple: the best path forward is through knowledge. By exploring and understanding AI tools technically and ethically, we position ourselves to develop safer, responsible animation tools and workflows.

I’m here to explore this openly and candidly. Debate, discussion, and even dissent about AI are welcome. Just don’t be an ass.

Welcome to Render & Reason!