Metrics & Mingling 2025 Live Panel

Episode DescriptionJoin us for a special live recording from Metrics & Mingling 2025, where audience participation drove the conversation about AI's role in creative entrepreneurship. Through interactive polling, attendees guided discussions about administrative efficiency, creative process boundaries, and maintaining human value in an AI-driven marketplace. This dynamic panel explores how creative professionals are navigating the integration of artificial intelligence while preserving the authenticity and struggle that makes their work meaningful.Administrative tasks worth delegating to AI vs. keeping human-centeredThe role of struggle and context in authentic creative workBalancing efficiency gains with creative fulfillmentFinding your unique voice and story as a creative professionalThe democratization of creative tools and its impact on professional artistsCharging appropriately for human-crafted work in an AI-accessible worldBuilding sustainable creative careers through intentional tool useThe importance of play and experimentation in maintaining creative edgeThe Guests Dr. Anuli Akanegbu - Cultural anthropologist and labor, race, and technology researcher at Data and Society; Host of "Black in Real Life" podcastEmmoLei Sankofa - Film and TV composer with work featured on Hulu, Disney Plus, and Amazon PrimeAlejo Porras - Visual note-taking artist and illustrator; Upcoming host of "Fresh Ideas" podcastOn Administrative Efficiency: "What are we saving that time to do? Like, what is the purpose of cutting all these corners and trying to be super fast with things?" - Dr. Anuli AkanegbuOn Creative Process: "When we delegate our thinking and creativity to AI, those are the things that intrinsically makes you, you... The struggle is what makes it better." - Alejo PorrasOn Industry Evolution: "Don't say that you draw, like that's not your differentiator. A lot of people can draw, AI can draw now... We need to know the human behind it." - Alejo PorrasOn Value Creation: "Sometimes people care more about the story behind the object than the object itself. So if you manage to tell your story, that would be so much more valuable." - Alejo PorrasDr. Anuli Akanegbu: anuliwashere.com | @anuliwashere | Data and Society researchEmmoLei Sankofa: e-sankofa.com | @emmolei on InstagramAlejo Porras: Alejo Porras Art on Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn | Fresh Ideas newsletter on SubstackCould Be Pretty Cool is an audio-first think tank for creative industries, using conversations with artists, designers, and innovators as qualitative research about the creative economy. The show captures real-time insights from people living and working in rapidly evolving creative fields.Follow Could Be Pretty Cool: @couldbeprettycool | couldbeprettycool.com | couldbeprettycoolnews.substack.comAI in creative industries, creative entrepreneurship, administrative automation, human creativity value, artistic authenticity, creative process, double consciousness, cultural anthropology, film composition, visual note-taking, creative community, industry evolution, Atlanta creative scene