Dive into the dynamic discussion on AI's role in culture and creativity. Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst illuminate AI governance and ownership concerns regarding art. They explore how media serves as training data and the blurred lines between art and music today. Their unique exhibition showcases the process behind creating an AI choral voice. Parenthood also shapes their artistic journey, blending family life with creativity. Finally, they stress the importance of AI literacy, urging engagement and informed participation in a tech-driven world.
The integration of AI in society raises significant ethical questions around governance, privacy, and the implications for individual autonomy.
Artists are encouraged to redefine their roles as they navigate the evolving landscape of media creation in relation to AI technologies.
Exhibitions like 'The Call' highlight the importance of engaging with AI's creative processes to foster a deeper understanding of its capabilities and artistic potential.
Deep dives
The Ethical Implications of AI
The discussion highlights the profound ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence, particularly as it becomes integrated into various aspects of life. Figures such as Elon Musk raise alarms about the U.S. government moving towards an AI-first strategy that could use personal data to inform decision-making. This shift prompts reflection on the consequences for individual privacy and autonomy, merging technological advancements with political implications. The Vatican's recent essay underscores the intersection of AI with themes of humanity and spirituality, emphasizing the need for thoughtful governance in this evolving landscape.
All Media as Training Data
The concept that 'all media is training data' is presented as a neutral yet controversial assertion about the contemporary digital landscape. This idea stems from the understanding that once media is created, it has the potential to serve as input for AI models, thereby gaining new significance. This shift forces artists and creators to reconsider the value of their work in a post-AI world, as their outputs may feed into broader machine learning frameworks. The conversation emphasizes the need for artists to recognize their roles in shaping and redefining the relationship between media creation and AI.
Blurring Boundaries Between Art and Music
The artists Holly Herndon and Matt Dryhurst express their evolving identity, moving beyond strict categorizations as solely musicians or visual artists. Their recent works, showcased in prominent art galleries, reflect this blurring of lines, driven by a desire to engage with different formats. This shift was partly influenced by the pandemic and its impact on the touring music industry, prompting them to explore collaborative installations that combine art and technology. The artists emphasize that their diverse creative contributions highlight the interconnectedness of various fields, challenging conventional industry definitions.
Exploring the Exhibition 'The Call'
The exhibition 'The Call' is designed to reveal the complex process of creating a machine learning model, focusing on dialogical beauty rather than mere outputs. This project invites visitors to engage with the process of artistic intervention within AI development, moving beyond a typical presentation of AI capabilities. By collaborating with community choirs across the UK, the artists aim to create an immersive experience that allows participants to actively contribute in real-time, fostering a deeper connection to the resulting AI-generated music. The exhibit emphasizes the artistic agency embedded within each creative decision made throughout the model's development.
Navigating AI in Everyday Life
The conversation stresses the importance of understanding AI technology to navigate its implications in daily life effectively. Engaging with AI through creative experimentation encourages a deeper comprehension of its capabilities and limitations. The speakers advocate for learning through hands-on experience, pushing back against the urge to dismiss new technologies without exploring their complexities. By fostering curiosity rather than skepticism, individuals can equip themselves to better understand and responsibly engage with the rapidly changing landscape of AI.
"We're pro-AI and we're pro-consent. Those things don't have to be mutually exclusive." The activists and artists talk about the hot button issues facing AI's governance.
The world is deep in the throes of a heightening debate over AI. Just this week, the Vatican published an essay addressing the potential, and risks, of AI in a new high-tech world as well as its intersection with religion and humanity. In politics, figures like Elon Musk are advising citizens that the US government will become increasingly "AI-first," using data about its individuals to make federal decisions. And in the world of culture and the humanities, the alarm has been sounded on AI's ability to both aid in creativity and homogenise the art and music being produced and consumed, raising concerns that much of what's being released is sounding increasingly the same.
There are probably no better experts on this far-ranging topic than Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, two Berlin-based academics and artists who have entrenched themselves in the world of AI ethics, advocacy and art for the past two decades. Now married, they come from DIY punk backgrounds, both having lived in the Bay Area pre-tech bubble while Herndon completed a Ph.D in Computer Music at Stanford. Their work is primarily concerned with how AI is governed as it becomes more ubiquitous in our everyday lives, and what its implications are for ownership of AI-generated artworks.
In this urgent and timely RA Exchange, the duo talk about their shift closer to the art world following their 2024 exhibition at The Whitney Biennial and their most recent show at Serpentine Gallery in London, The Call, which will close at the end of this month. It's one of many forward-thinking projects they've worked on to move away from the fear narrative dominating dialogue around how AI is influencing art and music, instead showcasing how machine learning can be used to push art forward. They also address their view of socialist democratic values with the rise of the far right, raising a young child and doing work that sits squarely between activism and art. Listen to the episode in full. – Chloe Lula
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