What happens when a mathematician peers into the circuitry of artificial intelligence and discovers the stirrings of imagination? In this week’s episode, Oxford professor Marcus du Sautoy explains why he believes machines can already surprise us – and how their digital ‘dreams’ might soon expand human creativity.

Du Sautoy’s latest book, The Creativity Code, asks whether algorithms can compose music, paint pictures or write poetry that genuinely moves an audience. Our conversation ranges from AlphaGo’s famous ‘move 37’ to the jazz-improv powers of Sony’s Continuator, shedding light on the opportunities – and limitations – of AI art.

‘Mathematics is a highly creative subject.’ – listen in as Marcus reveals how numbers, patterns and neural nets could reshape the arts.

Episode summary

Marcus du Sautoy

Professor Marcus du Sautoy holds Oxford’s prestigious Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science. Renowned for demystifying mathematics on television, radio and in seven books, he now turns his attention to algorithms and art. The Creativity Code explores how machine learning is rewriting the rule-book of games, music, painting and storytelling – and what that means for human ingenuity.

Big ideas in this conversation

• AI as collaborator – algorithms can act as creative partners rather than competitors.


• Surprise plus value – true originality lies in moves like AlphaGo’s ‘37’, which shock experts yet still win the game.


• Embodiment matters – code may compose dazzling passages that prove unplayable by human hands.


• Tools and telescopes – today’s systems help artists see further, even if they have no inner world of their own – yet.

Advice worth hearing in full

• Use constraints creatively – like poets and composers, impose rules to push work in unexpected directions.


• Shine a light on bias – DeepDream and other visualisers reveal when training data skews an algorithm’s vision.


• Treat AI as a sketchbook – harvest its outputs for riffs, motifs and patterns you would never invent alone.

Where next?

Experiment with Marcus’s recommended tool at deepdreamgenerator.com, explore his research and media projects via the Simonyi Professorship website, and pick up The Creativity Code for a deeper dive into AI’s creative frontier.

About The 21st Century Creative podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, The 21st Century Creative podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

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The post Marcus du Sautoy on AI and the Future of Creativity appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.