As a student at the University of Northern Colorado, I've observed that AI-generated content is often being utilized to promote various performances. This is deeply concerning, as both performing and visual arts are meant to be spaces for creative expression. Utilizing AI to generate graphics clearly indicates a deficiency in creativity and a feeling of apathy towards the arts and the students in the program. Attached is a real poster used to promote Common Hour, clearly generated by AI.

Beyond the disrespect this shows to genuine artists who would eagerly create art for our program, AI is also harmful to our environment. While its water usage is frequently mentioned, the primary concern lies with the quickly increasing carbon emissions from data centers. Data centers are also causing harm to our land and our neighborhoods.

It seems that AI is actively making us dumber. Our brain functions like a muscle, and if we don't consistently engage in cognitive exercises like critical thinking and creativity, we risk losing those abilities. Over-reliance on AI leads to "cognitive debt," making tasks much easier but causing users' memory recall, retention, and independent problem-solving abilities to decline over time. This is actively worsening the literacy crisis.

Any effective program ought to create opportunities for students, such as commissioning art and graphic design students to create art for performance promotion. It's likely they require additions to their portfolios and would be quite willing to do it for cheap or for free.