This editorial explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on creative industries, highlighting both the remarkable opportunities and significant challenges it presents. Drawing on the call to action from Tegmark’s Life 3.0, this Special Issue emphasizes the importance of proactive engagement in shaping the future of AI. The articles in this Special Issue reveal a landscape marked by ambivalence, balancing optimism for AI’s potential to enhance creativity and efficiency with apprehension about job displacement, ethical concerns and the preservation of artistic integrity. Through research and thoughtful analyses, contributors examine AI’s role in automating labour-intensive tasks, generating innovative content and reshaping client–agency dynamics. This Special Issue aims to stimulate further discussion and research around AI, guiding creative industries towards a future where technology and human artistry coexist harmoniously.