AI at the Barbican: not so bright after all

MakrShakr cocktail robots: AI More than Human
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AI: More Than Human is a new exhibition at the Barbican which promises an unprecedented survey of creative and scientific developments in artificial intelligence, and if we’re prepared to stretch our understanding of the term AI to encompass sculpture and images generated by neural networks, mythical creatures made of animated clay, geared mechanisms that encrypt messages. and anthropmorphic cooking tools then it certainly delivers.

The Curve exhibition space is so packed with artefacts, artworks and artificiality that it begins to overwhelm the visitor. It’s not surprising that one of the exhibits, programmed to tune in to faces in front of its camera, was apparently distracted by the images on the screens of other exhibits, as they are only partially hidden by the gauze screens that separate this rich and complex collection of thematically and chronologically ordered artefacts.

Alter 3 Robot: AI More than HUman

Alter 3 Robot: AI More than HUman

The Alter 3 robot is not alone in being not knowing where to look. As I walked through the space I was constantly distracted and diverted, turning from screen to object to interactive exhibit as I wondered exactly what story was being told here.

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Juvet AI Retreat

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I’ve been at a retreat the last few days, twenty of us at an astonishing hotel in Norway talking about design and artificial intelligence.

Here’s a photo from Matt of how insanely beautiful Norway is. and here’s what the space we met in looks like:

Juvet

Juvet

And from the inside:

Juvet meeting

Juvet meeting

 

Here’s a list of who was there, plus some more background on the retreat from the organisers.

And here’s the view from the wooden shelter opposite

The river

The river

 

And if it looks familiar, that may because you’ve seen Ex Machina – the hotel was one of the main locations.

I’ll write more about what we discussed – I’m still processing a lot. But Matt and Cennydd have started the process.