a fragment of foliage in an etching

the blog.

exploring AI, uncertainty & creativity

a blog estd. 10 December 2021
during the global pandemic

The offical destination of thisisuncertain.com

“The search for knowledge is not nourished by certainty: it is nourished by a radical absence of certainty.” – Carlo Rovelli

Marcus Baumgart Marcus Baumgart

The AI spell has worn off, and an ethical dilemma replaces it

AI image generation's initial magic distracted from ethical costs—stolen training data and massive environmental impact. Trump's deregulation made these costs feel urgent. The author embraces "conscious complicity," using AI tools while acknowledging unresolvable moral tension. They reject both avoidance and false ethical certainties, choosing Keatsian "negative capability"—sitting with uncertainty rather than grasping comfortable positions. Scale separates individual users from companies, but moral culpability remains. Conscious engagement beats dishonest purity.

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Marcus Baumgart Marcus Baumgart

Nothing Needs Fixing Before You Begin

The inner voice saying "not just yet" masquerades as wisdom but blocks creativity by demanding perfect conditions. Arthur Ashe's principle "start where you are" mirrors mindfulness—accepting current reality as your departure point. Creativity requires uncertainty, not control. Resistance often points toward meaningful work. Your unique combination of skills and perspective becomes an advantage when you stop trying to fix yourself first and create from exactly where you stand now.

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