Illustration for: 70% of Creatives Fear Stigma as AI Drives Majority of Their Ideas – Anthropic
Research & Benchmarks

70% of Creatives Fear Stigma as AI Drives Majority of Their Ideas – Anthropic

3 min read

Seventy percent of creative professionals say they worry about being judged for leaning on artificial intelligence, according to a new Anthropic study. The research, classified under “Research & Benchmarks,” reveals a tension that’s slipping from the lab into studios, galleries and rehearsal rooms. While the numbers are stark—seven out of ten creators flag stigma as a real concern—the deeper story is about control.

Artists and musicians are reporting that the tools they once treated as optional accessories are now steering the work itself. That shift matters because it challenges long‑standing ideas about authorship and originality in fields that have traditionally prized solitary vision. Scientists, meanwhile, are still hunting for AI collaborators that can augment rather than dominate the creative process.

The following voices illustrate just how far the balance has tipped, with creators openly quantifying the split between their own input and the algorithm’s output.

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Many admitted that AI ends up making creative decisions. One artist said: "The AI is driving a good bit of the concepts; I simply try to guide it… 60% AI, 40% my ideas." A musician added, "I hate to admit it, but the plugin has most of the control when using this." Scientists want AI partners they can trust Scientists tell a different story. They mainly use AI for literature review, coding, and writing, but AI still can't reliably handle core research tasks like generating hypotheses and running experiments.

An information security researcher explained the problem: "If I have to double check and confirm every single detail the [AI] agent is giving me to make sure there are no mistakes, that kind of defeats the purpose of having the agent do this work in the first place." A mathematician agreed: "After I have to spend the time verifying the AI output, it basically ends up being the same [amount of] time." Still, 91 percent of scientists want more AI support in their research. As one medical scientist put it, "I would love an AI which could feel like a valuable research partner… that could bring something new to the table." Recent reports suggest generative AI is already making significant contributions to accelerating research. Workers prefer collaboration, but automation is creeping in In the study, 65 percent of respondents describe AI's role as augmentative, meaning humans and machines working together.

Related Topics: #AI #Anthropic #creative professionals #algorithm #plugin #information security #hypotheses

Is the creative sector comfortable with AI? The Anthropic Interviewer survey of 1,250 professionals suggests otherwise. Seventy percent admit they hide AI use because of stigma, and many worry the technology could replace them.

Most respondents note a boost in productivity, yet the same group reports AI now makes the bulk of their artistic decisions. One artist described the split as “60 % AI, 40 % my ideas,” while a musician confessed the plugin “has most of the control.” The data shows a tension between efficiency gains and a fear of losing autonomy. Unclear whether workplaces will adjust norms around tool disclosure.

Moreover, the study does not reveal how these concerns translate into actual job outcomes. Scientists want AI partners they can trust, but the survey leaves open how trust will be built. In short, AI is clearly reshaping creative workflows, but the social and professional ramifications remain ambiguous.

The findings also hint that policy discussions may soon need to address credit attribution and ethical guidelines.

Further Reading

Common Questions Answered

What percentage of creative professionals say they fear stigma for relying on AI, according to the Anthropic study?

Seventy percent of creative professionals reported fearing judgment for using AI, as revealed by the Anthropic study. This figure translates to seven out of ten creators who consider stigma a real concern in their work.

How do artists quantify the split between their own ideas and AI-generated concepts?

One artist in the survey described the creative split as "60 % AI, 40 % my ideas," indicating that AI drives the majority of concept generation. The artist said they try to guide the tool, but the AI still makes most of the decisions.

What does the article say about the level of control AI plugins have over musicians' creative decisions?

A musician quoted in the article admitted that the AI plugin "has most of the control" when they use it, suggesting that the technology largely dictates musical outcomes. This sentiment reflects a broader worry among creators that AI may dominate artistic direction.

How does the perception of AI usage differ between creative professionals and scientists in the Anthropic research?

Creative professionals report high stigma, productivity boosts, and AI making the bulk of artistic decisions, whereas scientists mainly use AI for literature review, coding, and writing, and do not rely on it for core research tasks. This contrast highlights a tension where creators feel threatened, while scientists view AI as a supportive tool.

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