3. Computers and Creativity

Abstract

How can computers be used to model creativity? We address this issue in this article by starting with an examination of the two main cognitive mechanisms of human creativity. We argue that a primary hurdle facing human creativity is in trying to step outside of our habituated conceptual associations. However, since computers do not have such associations, we argue that in some important sense they are naturally predisposed towards creativity. Taking this viewpoint, we outline an approach to incorporating both the cognitive mechanism of creativity in a computational system.

On the Role of Computers in Creativity-Support Systems

“…However, computers do not have this inertia, and so they can be very effectively used to generate novel ideas. This argument has been presented in more detail elsewhere [31]. Our experience in developing creativity-assistive systems (reviewed in Sect.…”

“…We have been studying and modeling different aspects of creativity for over twenty years [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. During this time, we have also explored various computational approaches to creativity, and have developed some computational systems that stimulate imagination and emergence of novel ideas and associations in the users, or model such processes.…”

“…In terms of computational modeling, at least this aspect of creativity is easily modeled algorithmically [31]. This is because it is very difficult to model commonsense conceptual associations on the computer, and it has been a challenging research areas since the advent of Artificial Intelligence.…”

“…Researchers who study creativity have come up with various techniques to overcome this difficulty. However, computers and AI systems, which do not have any such associations, have a great advantage here, for they can search the unchartered areas of novel concepts and conceptual combination more systematically [19,31].…”