Getting back to the Icarus Deception

What if we’ve learned the wrong lesson?

We imagine Icarus at the moment the sun’s heat begins to liquefy the wax, as droplets fall from his wings as they unravel. With that single image, we are taught not to fly too close. This tale warns against hubris and overreaching, advocating restraint in ambition.

When considering Artificial Intelligence today, we often overlook the complete message of the Icarus myth. Our attention centers on the fear of flying too high and the risk that AI will exceed human capabilities and become dangerously powerful. But have we reflected on the looming danger of flying too low with this technology? By focusing exclusively on the risk of overreaching, we ignore a deeper, more critical caution in the story. The dual warnings of the myth are highly relevant to creative risk-taking: they caution us that although overreaching can lead to downfall, excessive caution can suppress creativity and growth. Accepting the whole message of the myth encourages us to find a balance between ambition and complacency, expanding the limits of imagination while avoiding the fear of failure.

This neglected warning is critical now. The myth is not only about the dangers of excessive ambition. The neglected warning concerns the risk of flying too low, of accepting mediocrity. This is the more relevant caution for our present relationship with AI. Consider the recent example of an AI-generated screenplay that was faulted for its absence of depth and originality. Despite flawless technical execution, the story felt flat and uninspired, a reminder of how easily AI can settle into the comfort zone of mediocrity. This stresses the critical role of leveraging AI thoughtfully to enhance creativity, rather than allowing it to dictate norms and standards.

Daedalus, the inventor, gave his son two warnings. Yes, he said, do not fly too high, or the sun will melt the wax. But he also commanded Icarus: Do not fly too low.

If you fly too close to the sea, he warned, the spray will clog your wings. The water will weigh you down. You won’t burn; you’ll drown in the damp, heavy air of the ocean surface.

The ‘Icarus Deception’ of 2024 is not that AI soars too close to the sun, but instead that it flies too low, just above the waves, risking entrapment in mediocrity. Without vigilance, AI’s low trajectory could pull us down toward ordinariness, just as the sea can bring a reckless flight to a halt. This scenario could be aptly labeled the ‘Sea-Level Trap,’ a condition where complacency prevents us from reaching heights of imagination and innovation.

The Gravity of the Mean

The uneasy reality about Generative AI is that it functions as a probability engine. It reflects the aggregate of all that has been written, painted, or coded.

By design, AI follows the regression-to-the-mean effect. It predicts the most likely next word. It’s like a careful gambler, always betting on the safest word. It smooths out anomalies and bets at the center of the bell curve, where most data lies.

This is the fundamental conflict that frequently occurs without being named. When we ask, ‘Will AI write the next Good Will Hunting?’ the mathematical answer is no. According to Rotten Tomatoes, while Good Will Hunting follows a familiar storyline, its unique details and distinguished performances make it an emotionally compelling drama. Instances such as this show that great art can result from creative twists and distinctive perspectives that set works apart from the ordinary. For example, Vincent van Gogh, who spent most of his life in obscurity, created masterpieces like Starry Night that broke from the conventional styles of his time. While AI can imitate narrative structure, it cannot replicate the soul, which exists at the margins rather than the center. It is this essential nature, the power to go beyond typical human experience and capture something unique and profound, that AI has yet to achieve. Where does your own ‘Starry Night’ reside beyond data? Consider what individual outlook or experience you bring that cannot be simplified to just information. Let this thought guide you to create beyond the limits of imitation.

The Anatomy of a Soul

Why can’t the machine “get there”? Because it doesn’t die.

He had to synthesize two traumas: memories of his father deflecting addiction and of his mother covering her head in shame after a cancer diagnosis. He married those memories to create a new reality.

He married those memories to create a new reality. As the sentiment goes: “No f*ing machine can do that“.

AI does not experience trauma or face a limited time to excel. According to a study by Yilin Ye and colleagues, there are apparent differences between human art and AI-generated art. Human inventiveness still brings qualities to art that technology cannot yet replicate. (Jha et al., 2026) The machine never feels relief after defeat or the weight of victory. It simply exists.

The Final Verdict

We need to stop asking if AI will replace the artist. That’s the wrong question.

The right question is: Can you survive the sea?

AI is analogous to the water: vast, powerful, and capable of supporting us, provided we do not become submerged in its mediocrity. We should allow AI to stabilize us at a safe distance from the average, handling routine tasks below, while reserving our creative heights for uniquely human achievements. It is our responsibility to contribute to the struggle, complexity, and mortality. To resist mediocrity, develop a habit of regular self-reflection. Each week, set aside time to evaluate your creative goals and pinpoint areas where taking creative risks could bring about surprising innovation. One should consider keeping a notebook to record reflections and ideas. I’ve done so since 2014. With no pressure to record every day, the habit of developing an attitude of ongoing improvement, documentation, and ambition, and ensuring your work remains distinctly human.

As the final slide of our mutual dilemma reminds us: “If you nail being human, you’re done“.

Let the machine handle the ordinary, but every day, challenge yourself to rise above. Commit to making one choice daily that disrupts routine, advances personal mastery, or takes a creative risk. Capture and share your moments of exceeding average, whether publicly or privately, to hold yourself accountable and inspire others. Defend your humanity, create boldly, aim higher, and lead where no machine can follow. The world needs your daring. Rise, create, defy, and let your humanity shine.

References

Jha, A., Nigam, A. & Kumar, S. (2026). Artistic intelligence: Distinguishing Human from AI-Generated Art Through Perception. International Conference on AI Research 51.

https://doi.org/10.34190/icair.5.1.4403

Electrons, Matter, Intelligence (EMI) by David T Phung is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.