Puchner, MartinBrown, CollierFry, Alyssa2026-05-0620262026-05-062026Fry, Alyssa. 2026. Ruining a Perfectly Good Monkey: The Intrusion of Artificial Intelligence in Creative Fields. Masters Thesis, Harvard University Division of Continuing Education.32677369https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/42736747This paper concerns itself with the anxieties that workers in creative thinking fields hold toward the intrusion of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is being used to cultivate and share information, write books, and create images, among other creative products. This paper examines the perspectives of creators through a lens of modern Science Fiction novels and through lived and reported experiences of teachers. The paper explores the historical and modern anxieties surrounding AI, including loss of privacy, isolation, “replacement” of creatives, over-reliance on technology & degradation of human competence, and seduction. Topics like the loss of privacy and over-reliance were found to be genuine threats to humans, but technology is so useful to the functioning of society that it is hard for these concerns to be addressed properly in the research or texts. Meanwhile, research showed that isolation was less of a relevant concern than people might first think, and seduction was more. “Replacement” as well is quite a visible anxiety, receiving attention from protestors while being ignored by those who frequently rely on AI use. Examining how these anxieties appear in reality and in fiction allowed for a raised awareness that would allow creators more protection, through knowledge, of AI It is important to be aware of these concerns, especially the anxieties that are valid threats, to prevent the unnecessary loss of valuable creative fields.application/pdfenLiteratureThesis or Dissertation2026-05-06