Lev Manovich, a computer science professor at CUNY and co-author of "Artificial Aesthetics," explores the relationship between AI and artistic creativity. He delves into how AI can be a collaborator or a competitor for artists, reshaping our concepts of creativity and authorship. The conversation highlights the urgent need for artists to engage deeply with AI tools while navigating the changing landscape of the art world. They also discuss the competitive rise of DeepSeek, a game-changing AI company that’s impacting traditional tech giants.