I’ve recently taken some time to experiment with Google’s Nano Banana image creation tool. My first trial was sometime in September, and I’ve been impressed ever since.
This is the worst it will ever be, which leaves me wondering what it will be like this time next year.
I uploaded a picture of myself at a function and asked it to change the background and my clothes. The prompts were very similar. The only difference was that in the first, I specifically requested a white kaftan, and in the second, a white Nigerian traditional attire.
The output was the same, even after trying to differentiate between a kaftan and an agbada or baban riga, as the case may be.
This tells me it has a linear understanding of what a kaftan or Nigerian traditional attire for men is (I may be wrong), but this is a function of the data it has been trained on. It reminded me of how important it is for us, as a people, to own our data and shape our narrative.
This isn’t about data generation and its impact on shaping narratives, so I’ll spare you the details.
I looked at the pictures and thought about how, while this may threaten photographers, the people who will make the most of Nano Banana and any other image creation or editing tool, whether as professionals or everyday users, are not necessarily those who can give the best prompt.
The people who will get the best results from tools like Nano Banana are those who understand the fundamentals of photography. These are the people who understand at least things like aperture, shutter speed, lens size, and lighting.
Their output will be very different and superior, not because the AI is good, but because they are good.
AI, like every other technology, is an enabler and an enhancer. As it evolves and revolutionizes the world, one thing will always remain true, even when Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) becomes a reality.
What will remain essential is understanding the basics of a field or domain. This is the realm of first-principle thinking.
Only those who understand the basics can think in first principles and make the most of these tools.
It’s not about what AI can do for you, but what you can use AI to do. Domain experts will always achieve more with AI than general users, even in their own industry.
So, seek to understand the first principles of your industry, business, or project.
I was listening to Wayne Rooney on a podcast with Rio Ferdinand, and he was talking about Manchester United’s poor performance. He made a very important point. Paraphrasing him, he said the players forget the basics: getting the ball, passing, and creating chances. No matter how well one plays, forgetting the basics will always cost the team the game.
There are basics for marriage, business, leadership, social change, and community organizing, among others. These principles are universal and respect no affiliation.