Non-AI things I'm into right now

Issue 256: Creative endeavors without prompting

Though AI is an important frontier, I have to remind myself: it’s not everything. Proof of Concept is a publication about experimentation in software, entrepreneurship, and creativity—not just an AI newsletter. So this week, I’m taking a break from writing about artificial intelligence and sharing a few non-AI things that have been bringing me joy lately.

Digital photography
Earlier this year, I picked up a Ricoh GR III—and I love it. I’ve always admired DSLR systems, but realistically, I know I wouldn’t carry one around. The GR III, on the other hand, is small enough to slip into a pocket. Ironically, it’s smaller than my iPhone in height and width.

Lately, I’ve also been enjoying Andy Allen’s !Camera from Not Boring. It’s been a refreshing way to explore iPhone photography again—something I hadn’t felt since apps like Dispo or Shots were in their heyday.

My BFA program required a ton of photography courses, and for the first time in years, I’m back to taking shots to print. One of my goals for 2025 is to frame and hang a few of my images.

Reading research papers—analog

Every day seems to bring a flood of new AI research papers. Trying to keep up digitally can feel like drinking from a firehose. So I’ve started printing them out. Reading them analog helps me slow down and focus.

I use the Brother HL-L2460DW (why do printers still have the worst names?) and hole-punch them with my Ugmonk Discbound Heirloom Journal. It’s not a nostalgic hipster move—it’s genuinely good for my health. I stare at screens all day, so any time I can process complex ideas without one is a win.

If you want to go analog without doing it yourself, check out Printernet. It’s a simple way to get curated bundles of printed papers delivered.

Sketching
To stay creative and off-screen, I’ve been doubling down on sketching. For me, sketching isn’t just visual ideation—it’s a different cognitive mode. It slows me down and gets ideas flowing without friction. Even as AI makes interface design more fluid, I still believe in the power of pen and paper to unlock something deeper.

Stan Winston School
The late Stan Winston was the mind behind some of the most iconic movie creatures of all time: Jurassic Park, Predator, Terminator 2, and more. The Stan Winston School is a digital archive and learning hub for practical effects, creature design, and filmmaking craft.

Here’s a great YouTube intro: How Stan Winston Studios Created the T-Rex

As someone obsessed with world-building and storytelling, I love revisiting these old-school effects techniques that predate—and often outshine—digital CGI.

Reading
Yes, I’m still reading plenty about AI, but these are a few non-AI books I’m into right now:

• Tiny Experiments – on playful creativity and iteration

• Hackers & Painters – Paul Graham’s classic on craft and software

• The Artist’s Way – a system for unblocking creative flow

• Essentialism – doing less, better

• The Abolition of All Political Parties – Simone Weil’s sharp critique of institutional power

It feels good to take a break from writing about AI for a week. As much as I’m invested in where the technology is going, stepping away reminds me that creativity doesn’t start—or end—with any one tool. Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to look sideways. Whether it’s photography, sketching, or printing something out, these analog detours keep me grounded in the why behind all this experimentation.

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Hyperlinks + notes

A collection of references for this post, updates, and weekly reads.

• Can You Get Emotionally Dependent on ChatGPT?

• The Code of the Entrepreneur by Steven Pressfield