How to Protect Your Creativity in an AI-Dominated World

You’re not alone.

As a creator, the thought of social media run by AI isn’t farfetched — in fact, the pressure to use AI for everything is getting stronger by the day. I tested this myself: I launched a new channel, let AI write the script with no changes, and it’s actually gaining traction. But this raised a question:

What happens to us as creatives if we fully rely on AI?

Today, I’ll share three mental defenses I’ve developed to protect my creativity and my team’s from AI degradation. These strategies help us:

• Use AI without losing our edge.
• Avoid the “Sameness Problem” in content creation.
• Increase our value in an AI-driven future.

This isn’t about rejecting AI — far from it. AI is the future, and success starts with building the right defenses.

Understanding the AI Threat

Our mind is a muscle with two sides: creative thinking and critical thinking. These grow through progressive overload — like challenging ourselves with new problems, learning, and practice.

But AI changes all that. It’s like sending a clone to the gym to do the hard work for you.

Here’s the problem: relying too much on AI weakens your mental “muscles.” Over time, you lose your ability to create, think critically, and solve problems. Worse, you become replaceable and outshined by AI.

Right now, you can get away without using AI. But in a few years, ignoring it would be like shooting yourself in the foot. The key is using AI strategically without becoming dependent.

Defense #1: Bollards

You’ve seen bollards before — those sturdy posts protecting buildings from cars. Think of your mind as that building, and distractions as the vehicles.

To protect your mind, limit reliance on AI during creation. AI is a great assistant, but it can’t replace instinct or experience.

Take Batman, for example. In The Dark Knight, he uses a sonar scan to locate hostages in a building filled with enemies. But the scan isn’t perfect — it can’t tell hostages from bad guys.

AI is like that scan. It gives suggestions but doesn’t know your niche or audience like you do. If Batman relied solely on that scan, the story would’ve ended horribly for the hostages.

Instead, use AI to analyze specific elements of your work — like a hook or a structure — without letting it dictate your decisions. In addition, keep your creative and critical thinking engaged by practicing analog skills like writing on paper or brainstorming without tech.

Defense #2: Recon Unit

In video games, recon tools like UAVs reveal enemies and weaknesses. In the creative world, this means staying informed about AI and industry trends.

Curate what you consume:

• Follow creators who discuss content, creativity, and AI.
• Subscribe to newsletters that dive deep into these topics.
• Use a separate YouTube account for learning (save MrBeast for another account).

My UAV uncovered AI’s biggest flaw: the Sameness Problem.

AI generates content by analyzing patterns and recombining them to create “new ideas”. However, it lacks the conscious experiences and emotions that make human ideas unique. If creators stop putting original work into the world, AI will train on its own output, leading to a flood of uniform and indistinguishable content.

You can stand out by mastering your craft and producing truly original ideas. Your experiences and insights are unique — something AI can’t replicate.

Defense #3: SAM Turret

In 1953, the U.S. developed a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system called Project Nike, named after the Greek goddess of victory. Instead of shooting down jets, your SAM targets distractions that create friction between you and deep focus.

Distractions like: poor sleep, unclear goals, a cluttered environment, or even your diet. For example, one of my writers struggled to generate ideas. After looking at his routine, I noticed his meals — big breakfasts and lunches — which were likely causing brain fog.

Once he adjusted his diet, his mental clarity improved significantly. This is what a strong SAM does: it identifies and eliminates obstacles to flow state.

Assess your life regularly. Ask yourself:

• Is something throwing off my sleep?
• Is my diet limiting mental clarity?
• Do I have clarity on my goals?
• Am I managing distractions effectively?

Building your SAM ensures you’re mentally sharp and ready to create, even in an AI-dominated world.

The World Belongs to Creatives

With bollards to protect your mind, recon tools to stay informed, and a SAM to eliminate distractions, you can thrive in the age of AI.

Remember: AI is a tool, not a replacement. Use it to assist, not dictate. Focus on honing your unique voice and original ideas — because the pendulum will swing back to valuing authentic creativity.

Stay creative. The future belongs to those who do.

Watch the expanded version on YouTube!