Creativity vs Control: Where AI Fits in the Creative Toolbox

a16z Podcast

Being a creator in 2025 is tough—but building for creators is even harder. Perhaps no one understands this conundrum better than Scott Belsky. As the founder of Behance, a longtime executive at Adobe, and an advisor to companies like Pinterest and Atlassian, Scott has spent his career at the intersection of technology, design, and creativity.

In this speedrun episode, recorded live in San Francisco during the fourth iteration of our a16z Games Speedrun program, we dive into:

• How AI can actually enable creators—and where its toolset should end
• The evolution from the "prompt era" to the "controls era" of AI
• Whether people really want bespoke, personalized experiences or simply crave familiarity
• What happens when creative scarcity disappears and AI-generated content becomes ubiquitous
• The future of creative tooling, from generative UI to AI-native interfaces

Plus, Scott shares insights from his time building Behance, leading product strategy at Adobe, and investing in the next generation of creative tools.

If you want to learn more about A16Z Games Speedrun, visit a16z.com/games/speedrun.

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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.