Tradition Meets Technology
How artificial intelligence enhances creativity.
“I am seeking for the bridge which leans from the visible to the invisible through reality.”
– Max Beckmann
It’s hard to ignore the impact of artificial intelligence as a San Francisco Bay Area resident. The freeways in this part of California are littered with billboards, paste-ups, and other advertisements spreading the good word about how AI can enhance your life on almost every level. Headlines like “Humans are so 2023,” “Stop Hiring Humans,” and “Hire Artisans, Not Humans”—albeit attention-grabbing—evoke images of a dystopian future, one in which creativity has all but evaporated, leaving us humans with nothing to do but simply watch as machines shape a world that no longer needs us.
Holy shit, that’s scary stuff, right?
While we hope this future never becomes reality, it still raises important questions about the potential and limitations that human creativity and technology continue to face today.
The Haptic Tarot
Over the past two years or so, there have been passionate and often heated conversations about generative AI technology and its place—or whether it should have a place at all—in the Tarot community. These discussions revolve around questions of creativity, time, and, above all, authenticity—what it means to create, who can be called an artist, and how we define true artistic expression in an age where collaboration with technology is becoming increasingly common.
Like many creative spaces, the Tarot community seems divided on AI’s role in artistic expression. Some, like myself, see it as a valuable tool, while others view it as a threat. Speaking from my own experience, I found AI to be incredibly effective in creating my first Tarot deck. It allowed me to bring the images I envisioned in my mind to life—something that once felt completely out of reach, both technically and emotionally. As I worked with AI, I realized it didn’t replace my creativity; it enhanced and amplified it.
However, I understand the concerns of those who believe AI-generated Tarot artwork and decks pose a risk to the integrity of our tradition as card readers. Tarot is more than just imagery and symbolism printed on pieces of paper—it is a deeply personal, intuitive, and human practice. With the introduction of technology into the creation process, it’s reasonable for some to worry that AI-produced art may lack the spirit and intention that make Tarot decks truly meaningful.
Departures Tarot
Another major point of contention in this debate is time. Shouldn’t art take time? Shouldn't it take weeks, years, or even a lifetime to bring a creative vision to life? Shouldn’t there be a level of painstaking anguish to ensure that everything is just right, perfect, and in place?
It’s a romantic notion—the idea that true creativity must be slow, arduous, and filled with struggle. But in my creative practice, I believe that the time required to create something should be independent of its content. Some ideas demand months of refinement; others come together in a flash of inspiration. The pace at which something is made does not determine its authenticity or value, as long as consideration and care are used.
AI has been an invaluable partner in my creative process—not a shortcut. It has helped me keep pace with my ideas, ambition, and vision in ways that traditional methods sometimes couldn’t. For nearly 25 years, Tarot has been an integral part of my personal and professional journey, its symbols, archetypes, and visual language shaping my creative work. Using AI as a tool to further explore and refine these ideas has been an exciting evolution, enhancing my artistic intuition rather than replacing it.
XI. The Hanged Man - Visualized with AI
So now the question stands: where do we go from here? AI is here to stay, and its influence on our world will only continue to grow. At the same time, Tarot is also here to stay—remaining deeply and profoundly human. It thrives on intuition, personal connection, and storytelling—concepts that AI, no matter how advanced, will never be able to truly replicate. While AI can assist in generating visuals, it will never replace the lived experiences, emotions, and spiritual depth that human bring to their creative work or that Tarot readers bring to their practice.