a fragment of foliage in an etching

the blog.

exploring AI, uncertainty & creativity

a blog estd. 10 December 2021
during the global pandemic

The offical destination of thisisuncertain.com

“The search for knowledge is not nourished by certainty: it is nourished by a radical absence of certainty.” – Carlo Rovelli

Marcus Baumgart Marcus Baumgart

Nothing Needs Fixing Before You Begin

The inner voice saying "not just yet" masquerades as wisdom but blocks creativity by demanding perfect conditions. Arthur Ashe's principle "start where you are" mirrors mindfulness—accepting current reality as your departure point. Creativity requires uncertainty, not control. Resistance often points toward meaningful work. Your unique combination of skills and perspective becomes an advantage when you stop trying to fix yourself first and create from exactly where you stand now.

Read More
Marcus Baumgart Marcus Baumgart

Why I always start with obvious AI prompts - or, in praise of the statement of the obvious

The author fed Cicero's quote about having "a garden in your library" into AI, which literally visualized plants growing among books. Rather than seeing this as failure, they recognized it revealed the quote's beautiful impracticality. This demonstrates the power of "obvious" prompts that strip away romantic interpretations and force confrontation with core ideas. Working with AI requires nimbleness—alternating between directing and discovering unexpected elements. The creative ego resists starting with basic prompts, but this approach dissolves anxiety and reveals genuine insights, making assumptions visible where real creativity begins.

Read More