When AI Sparks Less: Generative AI and the Decline of Self-Perceived Creativity

The integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) into creative work has the potential to transform how individuals generate ideas and solve problems. While prior research has emphasized GenAI’s ability to enhance productivity and creative outcomes, less is known about its impact on the psychological and skill-based components of human creativity. This study investigates how using GenAI influences intrinsic task motivation, domain-relevant skills, creativity-relevant skills, and self-evaluated creative performance. Results from the experiment with 82 participants revealed that GenAI usage significantly decreased intrinsic task motivation, domain-relevant skills, and creativity-relevant skills, while self-evaluated performance remained unchanged. These findings indicate that although GenAI can provide objective support for creative tasks, its use may undermine individuals’ perceptions of their own competence and creative abilities. The results highlight the role of GenAI in human-AI collaboration, emphasizing that technological augmentation may coexist with declines in the psychological resources traditionally driving creativity.