Generation AI: Empowering a new era of creators and businesses

AI: The Creative Catalyst – Empowering a New Generation of Innovators and Entrepreneurs

AI is increasingly integrated into daily life, as highlighted by Mikayel Vardanyan, Co-Founder & COO of Mikayel. He uses AI extensively for tasks like writing, critiquing, and developing products. The discussion began with a lighthearted reference to AI’s ability to generate poems, underscoring its pervasive presence and practical applications in various professional contexts.

Mikayel introduced PicsArt as a leading AI-powered platform, serving diverse needs from marketing materials and social media content to advertisements and digital art. Launched during the iPhone 12 era, PicsArt initially attracted “jazz ears” – early smartphone adopters. The platform has since grown significantly, evolving alongside its user base’s increasing sophistication and creative demands.

A notable trend among PicsArt’s early adopters is their entrepreneurial journey; 50% have successfully launched their own businesses. These users leverage PicsArt for critical business functions, including marketing, sales, and product design. Examples include removing product backgrounds for online shops like Etsy and generating promotional content, demonstrating AI’s tangible impact on small businesses.

PicsArt’s engagement with AI spans a long history, beginning with basic filters and progressing to advanced AI expenditure features like background removal. The company has embraced the generative AI revolution, recently achieving a significant milestone: one billion AI-generated images since its 2022 launch. This showcases their continuous innovation in the AI space.

Addressing concerns about AI’s potential for misinformation, such as fake images of public figures, Mikayel acknowledged that new technologies can be misused. He emphasized that while AI makes it easier to create deceptive content, the industry is maturing. Companies like Meta are working on solutions, including moderation tools and manual oversight, to mitigate these risks effectively.

Mikayel believes that AI will not eliminate jobs but rather transform them. He asserts that individuals who skillfully integrate AI into their workflows will gain a competitive edge. Comparing AI to fundamental technologies like computers and electricity, he stressed that embracing AI is crucial for staying relevant and productive in the evolving professional landscape.

Regarding the education of the “AI generation,” Mikayel, a father himself, advocates teaching children to utilize AI as a tool without becoming overly reliant on it. He highlights the importance of understanding context and formulating precise prompts to elicit accurate AI responses, fostering critical thinking alongside technological proficiency for future success.

Looking ahead, Mikayel outlined PicsArt’s vision to make creativity universally accessible. Generative AI is central to this goal, enabling the development of next-generation video and photo tools. PicsArt aims to empower users with comprehensive self-help resources for marketing and business, ensuring that everyone can harness AI to realize their creative and entrepreneurial aspirations.