AI's Enshittification Drives Artists to LinkedIn

The digital landscape for artists has grown increasingly challenging, prompting some, like musician Grimes, to explore unconventional platforms such as LinkedIn. This migration occurs as many creative platforms face 'enshittification,' characterized by a decline in genuine engagement and an influx of bots and AI-generated content. The author, having already released an AI-themed film on LinkedIn, notes the platform's slow algorithm and outdated job postings.

This move to LinkedIn is motivated by a desire to engage with a unique audience interested in AI and the future of work. The platform is seen as a potential space for artists to foster conversations, despite its limitations and the increasing use of AI tools by its members to generate posts. Big tech companies are actively seeking 'storytellers' to shape corporate narratives.

Companies like Nvidia are particularly interested in creatives who can promote their technologies, with opportunities for significant financial rewards. However, this often leads to 'artwashing,' where digital creativity is used to sanitize the public image of tech corporations. Some artists are resisting these overtures, viewing them as exploitative, while others, like Grimes, appear to embrace an 'accelerationist' stance on AI's future.