In a recent segment on CNBC, a guest offered a simple but urgent piece of advice: focus on the jobs of tomorrow, not the jobs of today. That sentiment struck a chord here at BRIC. As a community media center dedicated to democratizing access to media and communication, we believe the conversation around artificial intelligence isn’t about fear—it’s about opportunity.
The launch of our new AI-focused curriculum represents a vital leap forward in our mission. For decades, we’ve helped people tell their stories—whether on gritty analog recordings or through cutting-edge surround sound installations. The tools may change, but the mission stays the same. Now, we are helping our community use AI as a creative partner rather than letting it become a barrier or a threat.
Critics often fear that new technology will displace the human element, but history tells us otherwise. When autofocus cameras arrived, some said it would destroy photography. When 78 RPM records came out, people feared the death of live music. Each time, the arts adapted and thrived. Similarly, AI isn’t replacing artists—it’s creating a new medium of expression. The danger isn’t AI itself. The danger is being left behind by it.
And let’s be clear: the people most often left behind are those already marginalized—Black and brown communities, women, and low-income individuals. If we don’t give everyone the tools to engage with new technologies, we risk further entrenching inequality. BRIC refuses to let that happen.
Through offerings like our AI screenwriting class, we’re demystifying this technology. We’re making clear that what’s being called “AI” is often just very fast machine learning—an evolution of tools like search engines and word processors. Just like Spotify needs curators, AI still needs storytellers. The creativity, the voice, the point of view still has to come from a human being.
Artist and educator Nettrice Gaskins, during her keynote address at the 2023 Alliance for Community Media conference, explained this beautifully. She framed AI as a prompt-based tool—one that, like any medium, demands thought, intentionality, and creativity.
This isn’t just about one AI course in screenwriting. It’s about how BRIC serves as an intermediary between community and technology. Whether it’s a DJ set, a documentary, a short film, or a digital art installation, we’re here to help people bring their stories to life using whatever tools make the most sense—be it paint, camera, sound or prose.
Our programming and our online content are all to ensure the community sees themselves reflected in this work—on air, online, and in our classrooms. As always, BRIC stands for accessibility, equity, and expression.
We’re not just reacting to the future—we’re shaping it. We’re helping our community adapt, so they don’t disappear from the conversation. That’s the promise of this AI curriculum. And that’s the promise of BRIC.
-Wes Jackson, President, BRIC Arts Media
