
Whoa, Vol. 2: Conversations on AI × Creativity How David Perell Uses AI to Unlock His Playful Side
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Oct 10, 2025 Join David Perell, a writer and educator known for his insights on AI and creativity, as he explores the dynamic interplay between technology and artistry. He discusses the decline of beauty in modern design and how AI affects the quality of writing, asserting that exceptional nonfiction is more vital than ever. David shares his unique approach to using AI, blending humor and creativity while maintaining the essence of personal expression. He also highlights the burgeoning value of live performances in an increasingly automated world.
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Decline Of Democratic Beauty
- David Perell argues that democratic beauty—everyday crafted objects and spaces—has declined and that this decline signals cultural loss.
- He measures societies by how beautifully they build things that honor the human spirit.
Post Office That Celebrated Civic Pride
- Perell recounts entering New York's old post office and feeling its crafted architecture celebrate civic values.
- He contrasts that with modern post offices that feel utilitarian and disrespectful to visitors.
History Shapes Aesthetics
- Perell links shifts in aesthetic styles to historical technology and trauma from WWI and WWII shaping modernist minimalism.
- He argues modernity equated ornamentation with backwardness, producing sterile public spaces and buildings.









