🧠 Brains Before Bots: Awaken to What Real Creativity Looks Like Now 🎨

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Creativity Chronicles​
Unlocking Creative Joy, One Week at a Time

AI is making everything easier.
But that’s not what’s important.
What’s important is: What are you doing with that ease?

This week, I’m spotlighting two different kinds of innovators who are using AI not as a crutch, but as a creative amplifier. In the fast-moving world of content and marketing, the pros who stand out lead with the vision, taste, and creative skills—the “human in the loop” abilities necessary to tell AI what to do.

🎛️ Your Intention = The Interface

The more automated things get, the more your intention becomes the differentiator. For example, in video editing software Descript’s next update, creators can describe the video vibe they want, and the AI will assemble the edit. What’s left for us humans is to take creative control.

Watch CEO Andrew Mason’s demo of the upcoming release 👇

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🍼 Human Wit, Not AI Fluff

Jon Lajoie’s Baby Talk Podcast is powered by AI avatars,but what really lands is the clever, tightly crafted human writing. The polished execution is impressive as well.

What makes this clip a standout is that Lajoie doesn’t lean on the tech to be funny. He shows that no matter the tools, it’s still the brain behind the words that makes the magic. (And, yes, the tech is pretty dang cool too.)

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📣 Want to stay competitive? Watch the how, not just the what.

If you’re a digital marketer or content pro, now’s the time to sharpen your edge. Not by chasing every new tool—but by learning from those who use them well.

➡️ FYI, I’m building a new online course—especially designed for marketing professionals—to help you do just that. Stay tuned.

Keep creating,

Jon Leland, AI Creativity & Marketing Strategist
​“Spanning the Grand Canyon Gap between people and technology.”

🎯 I Conjured This Image in 60 Seconds. Imagine What AI Could Do If You Learned AI. 🚀

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Creativity Chronicles​
Unlocking Creative Joy, One Week at a Time

Hey Reader,

Not Playing with AI Yet? That’s a Choice — and It’s Risky.

I know it doesn’t look like me exactly… but I made this image in 60 seconds. Seriously.

I simply uploaded my profile avatar image and gave ChatGPT a one-line prompt:

“Put this image on a mug that’s on a home video studio creator’s desk. Warm, positive colors and lighting.”

Boom. This fun, vibrant, creative image showed up. And, I was impressed (again) by the creative power of AI.

So now I have to ask:
​Are you playing creatively with AI yet?

If not — why not? 🤔

I ask not to stir up FOMO… but to invite you in.
This is the same kind of future of tech moment as when, over the years, I’ve encouraged people to try:

  • Computers 💻
  • Then, the Internet 🌐
  • Then, digital video 🎥

Now? It’s AI — and it’s both wildly fun and shockingly powerful.

The world is shifting fast. 🌍

Please believe me. Creating with AI isn’t just some trendy experiment. It’s how we shape the future — starting now.

So go ahead, dip your toe in. Play.
Why choose to live in what’s rapidly becoming the rearview mirror? 🪞

Let’s keep moving forward together — with curiosity, joy, and a little creative courage.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Warmly,

Jon Leland, AI Creativity & Marketing Strategist
​“Spanning the Grand Canyon Gap between people and technology.”

🌊 Catch the unstoppable AI creativity wave 📄 Don’t miss this free PDF

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Creativity Chronicles​
Unlocking Creative Joy, One Week at a Time

Hey [FIRST NAME GOES HERE],

📄 Don’t Miss My Latest Free PDF:
​Empowering AI Trends for Social Media Marketers​
​It’s a quick, insight-packed guide—the slide deck from a recent webinar—that outlines the creative shifts reshaping how we digital creatives work to wow audiences.

(If you recently subscribed to this list and already got this download, welcome to Creativity Chronicles!)

When Play Becomes Proof

Just this weekend, I used ChatGPT 4o to re-imagine myself as an action figure; and then, to my delight, I brought this virtual me to “life” with an AI-generated unboxing video that includes synthetic human hands. 🤯 Check it out 👇

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Yes, this was creative play, but it’s also a glimpse into how rapidly AI tools evolve. What felt impossible a month ago is now surprisingly easy! This isn’t just “cool.” It’s the future arriving in real time and a clear reminder that:

We’re in a creative revolution.

If you’re in digital or social marketing (for yourself or others), this moment matters. The tools are evolving weekly. The possibilities? Multiplying.

👉 [Download your free PDF]

Inside, you’ll find:

  • A mindset shift: from “AI tool” to creative thought partner
  • Four fast-moving trends: customization, automation, apps, and agentic AI
  • Practical ideas to fuel your next experiment

Next, I’m developing an experiential online course to help you build your AI-enhanced creative skillset—without losing your human touch. More on that soon.

Need help?

Do you have a creative itch that AI might help scratch?

You don’t have to figure it out alone. I offer personal coaching to help you get going.

​Book a 1:1 AI creativity session now →​

This wave is worth riding 🏄‍♀️,

Jon Leland, AI Creativity & Marketing Strategist
​“Spanning the Grand Canyon Gap between people and technology.”

🚀 Creative AI shifts you can’t ignore 🎨

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Creativity Chronicles​
Unlocking Creative Joy, One Week at a Time

I’ve seen this before—and the ending is a media revolution

Dear Reader,

You can’t ignore what’s happening in creative AI right now.

Trust me—I’ve seen this movie before.

Back in the ’80s, when digital video landed, the world cracked open for a new generation of innovative storytellers. Suddenly, you didn’t need a studio to make something meaningful—you just needed a camera and the guts to hit record.

Fast forward a few decades: YouTube, TikTok, and entire media empires were built on that digital video shift (that some people called a revolution).

Now it’s happening again. But this time, the tools aren’t cameras—they’re AI (in everything).

Two jaw-dropping updates to creative AI apps were launched just in the past week. The change the creative game (again):

ChatGPT now has new kinds of visual intelligence 🧠🎨

You can now show ChatGPT 4o (or Sora, its image and video model) an image and say, “Make (whatever else you upload) like this” while also specifying text that it usually gets right. So easy! And to make changes, as usual, ChatGPT understands common language feedback (no need for fancy prompts):

  • Mix words and images to guide ideas (like the one above)
  • Get help with concept art, moodboards, and style suggestions
  • Play with virtually any visual style
  • Turn sketches into virtual reality

These new capabilities are so profound that ChatGPT has now taken the lead in AI image generation.

​Learn more about ChatGPT’s new image powers →​

Runway ML keeps video worlds & characters consistent 🎬🌍

Runway’s latest Gen-4 update lets you build stories with the same faces, worlds, and vibes from scene to scene. This is a breakthrough that storytellers have been waiting for.

  • Keep characters looking like themselves (finally)
  • Build cohesive visual stories, shot by shot
  • Explore full narrative arcs using AI

​Be dazzled by new Runway Gen-4 video features →​

Why this matters (a lot)

These updates aren’t just bells and whistles—they’re neon signs pointing to what’s next:

  • Visual storytelling is getting wildly accessible
  • Creative barriers are dropping fast
  • New formats and voices are ready to emerge

If you’ve got a story to tell or an idea that won’t quit, this is your green light. The tech is here. It’s weird. It’s sometimes janky. But, it’s wide open.

Want help making your first move?

Got a creative itch AI might help scratch—but not sure how or where to start? I know. It can be overwhelming.

You don’t have to figure it out alone. I offer personal coaching to help you get going with clarity and confidence.

​Book a 1:1 AI creativity session now →​

You’re not late—you’re right on time,

Jon Leland, AI Creativity & Marketing Strategist
​“Spanning the Grand Canyon Gap between people and technology.”

AI Note: I collaborated with ChatGPT and the Custom GPT “Mailed It!” while writing this email.