Welcome to The Study of AI!
We firmly believe in the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence. However, the surrounding overhype can lead to misinterpretations. In this sense, before we proceed, let us offer a full disclosure:
- AIs don’t have a subjective experience of reality. Therefore, their interpretations of artworks and cultural expressions differ significantly from those of humans
- The trap of “technological solutionism”, as introduced by Evgeny Morozov, is real. We are well aware that, in many cases, technology won’t provide the answers we’re looking for
Having clarified this, let’s acknowledge a couple of other points about AIs:
- They are able to analyze each pixel of an image, something far beyond the capacity of the human eye
- They process information much more efficiently and faster than us
- Their memories are larger than ours
- They possess an unprecedented ability for pattern identification
Because of these capabilities, AIs can transform the way we live and see the world. Take the field of computer vision, which boasts the majority of practical applications so far: It’s already powering self-driving cars, autonomous drones, diagnostic imaging, facial recognition, and more.
Computer vision, as we’ve discovered, can provide unique perspectives on art as well.
These examples show that AI will make an impact not only on the economy, but also in culture.
Concerning the AI-culture connection, consider that AI-generated texts are everywhere. Whether we like it or not, people are using AI to write articles, provide customer support, and even craft tweets and YouTube comments. It’s reasonable to assume that this will influence our relationship with language.
AI-generated images are also widespread. Will they establish a new aesthetic?
Marshall McLuhan, the renowned media theorist, proposed that all technologies are extensions of humankind. The phrase “the medium is the message” was coined by him to convey the idea that each technological development has its corresponding social effects, and that technology can shape human understanding, association, and action.
Someone needs to investigate how AI and culture intertwine – that’s our mission.