iMAL & Bozar are presenting a two-day event on the future of living with AI
On 8 and 9 December, EUNIC is organising in collaboration with Bozar and iMAL the third edition of the event The Future of Living (with AI). The first day will happen at iMAL on Friday 8th December, and the second day in Bozar. At iMAL, the exhibition Code & Algorithms, running through 18 February 2024, is also organised in the framework of this event.
This Future of Living edition, under the subtitle “Human, All Too Human" and curated by iMAL director Lucía García, is a two-day event held at two locations, first day at iMAL and second day at Bozar. It's featuring AI researchers and engineers, artists, and thinkers. Through performances, panel discussions and keynotes, we will explore together, from dystopia to utopia, new narratives that turn the tide and break paradigms towards a positive techno-social change.
As a special prelude to the 2-day conference, iMAL is organising on 7 December at 1pm the event Be My Guest!, a special lunch event hosted by AI for journalists. If you wish to join, please confirm your presence to albane@clubparadis.be
The Future of Living 3: Human, All Too Human
The race to create a machine that outperforms humanly is shaking up every field of our lives. Experts say than in no more than a lustrum, the models of the new so called “capable AI” will not only be able to express ideas and take decisions, but will also be able to perform a sequence of actions.
At the same time, AI capabilities are becoming increasingly more anthropomorphically sophisticated. And discreetly, AI is digging into our past, live impacting our present and predicting our future. In just a few months, more than 100 million of us have used ChatGPT or text-to-image programs. In this exercise, we have witnessed artificial intelligence and artificial stupidity. We have also witnessed how AI is being used as a weapon to influence and manipulate public debate. And sooner than we think, AI will be whispering delicate life advice to us humans.
Until now, no technological development in human history has ever had power and control over our lives. And even though it’s true that AI is not naturally autonomous -or not yet-, this shift of lead, in certain competences, from humans to machines could irrupt faster than expected.
Reflection and action is needed now. How can we, as citizens, partake collectively in the process of feeding the capabilities and constraints into those models to make them fair, inclusive and truthful? Is a true democratic process possible? Could art serve as a tool for fine-tuning?
The third edition of The Future of Living is not only an invitation for reflection and dialogue, but also for collective remodeling and action. Under the subtitle “Human, All Too Human" we will be exploring, from dystopia to utopia, new narratives that turn the tide and break paradigms towards a positive techno-social change.
Conference: 7, 8 & 9 December, 2023
The Future of Living 3: Human, All Too Human
Curated by Lucía García
https://www.thefutureofliving.eu
Exhibition:
Code & Algorithms. Wisdom in a calculated world
16 November 2023 – 18 February 2024
Curated by Manuela Naveau
https://www.imal.org/en
Partners
Austrian Cultural Forum, Republic of Estonia, Luxembourg Embassy, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Instituto Cervantes, Embajada Española, Liszt Institute Brussels, Wallonie-Bruxelles international, Czech Centre Brussels, Goethe Institut, Polish Institute
The event takes place in the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Support
Detailed program at iMAL
7 December
- 13h. Performance (Press preview session): Be my guest!*
a collective XR lunch event hosted by AI
Artists: Anna Pompermaier and Cenk Güzelis (AT), in collaboration with Valdemar Danry
At the intersection between art, architecture, and research, Be My Guest! explores the spatial, cultural, and social relationships of design, new media technologies, and AI in one of the most common and oldest gathering rituals in our everyday lives: a dinner with friends where AI becomes the host, co-creator of the spatial experience, and co-author of the spatial menu. Every dish becomes a surreal experience, with AI co-designed objects staging the physical environment and hiding hybrid affordances yet to be discovered. The project situates itself in the speculative future of living and proposes a mixed-reality dinner event, combining spatial storytelling, AI as a social companion, and posthuman theories to open a ground for discussion about the emerging socio-cultural role of artificial intelligent models and their integration through new media technologies in our everyday social scenarios for the future of our livable domains.
Limited capacity!
Please confirm your attendance to albane@clubparadis.be before 4 December
8 December
Day 1. AI, Notes on Artificial Revelations
Venue: iMAL, Quai des Charbonnages 30, 1080 Brussels
9:30h. Welcome coffee + croissants
- 9:30-10:15h. Keynote speaker: Carles Sierra (ES), title: Ethics and AI
Ethics in AI is a wide-ranging field encompassing many open questions regarding the moral, legal and technical issues that arise with using and designing ethically-compliant autonomous agents. Under this umbrella, the computational ethics area is concerned with formulating and codifying ethical principles into software components. This talk will focus on a particular problem in computational ethics: engineering moral values into autonomous agents, present results in this area and a vision for future research.
Prof. Dr. Carles Sierra is Research Professor and the Director of the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (IIIA) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) located in the area of Barcelona. He is Adjunct Professor of the Western Sydney University. Also, proud recipient of the ACM/SIGAI Autonomous Agents Research Award 2019.
- 10:30-11:15h. Keynote speaker: Barbora Trnková (CZ) + Tomáš Javůrek (CZ), title: AI: All Idiots
Through artistic research methodologies across several projects, this work critically examines the proclaimed transcendence of rationalistic dualities personified by the cyborg metaphor of Donna Haraway. In doing so, it hints at certain contents reproducing meta-programs concealed within digital technologies. It also indicates how mediated digital thinking impedes the perception of the other, posing a risk to techno-optimistic solutions inspired by this metaphor. In the spirit of glitch feminism, it proposes instances of algorithmic biases, which represent deep glitches in the normative hegemony shaped by dominant subjectivity mediated through the implementation of machine learning algorithms, to be positively perceived as an opportunity for their identification and removal.
Barbora Trnková is an artist, photographer, curator and a postgraduate student at the Faculty of Fine Arts at Brno University of Technology. In her work she focuses on formulating a shift in photography from taking photos by camera to creating cameras instead. Her dissertation examines aspects of human-inhuman communication both in the development of technology and as an accompanying phenomenon of the very process of working on a work of art in any medium. She is co-founder ScreenSaverGallery, and part of the art duo &.
Together with Tomáš Javůrek, they create applications, wifi installations, mobile applications and web works under the common name & at their site metazoa.org. They critically examine various aspects of digital technology, with irony and self-irony.
Barbora, Tomáš Javůrek and Marie Meixner are founders, and co-curators of ScreenSaverGallery, the experimental net art gallery-like space in screensavers.
- 11:30-12.15h. Keynote speaker: Sana Nouzri (LU), title: From Creators to Partners: Refining AI's Perception and Forging a New Human-Machine Social Contract
In this talk, Dr. Sana Nouzri will navigate the fascinating journey of human-machine collaboration, spotlighting the human touch in refining AI perspectives, examining how humans are pivotal in fine-tuning AI's worldview and the emerging symbiotic relationship that defines our era. She'll outline a renewed social agreement for our era, promoting a future where both humans and machines grow side by side. To illustrate, Nouzri will delve into the role of AI chatbots in religious dialogue and in virtual learning environments, addressing the intricacies of data collection, the nuances of AI-mediated discussions, and the ethical considerations stemming from AI's impact on various viewpoints.
Sana Nouzri received her PhD in Computer Science in 2015 at the University of Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, where she also served as an assistant professor at the Faculty of Sciences Semlalia between 2015–2020, and holds a Professional Certification in Artificial Intelligence from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In September 2020, she joined the University of Luxembourg as a postdoctoral researcher at the AI Robolab. Dr. Nouzri has a special interest in the intersection of AI and art, and AI and education and is passionate about knowledge dissemination. She is responsible for various outreach and dissemination activities including elements of AI courses. Through her research and educational efforts, Dr. Nouzri continues to contribute significantly to the fields of artificial intelligence and education.
- 12:30-13:15h. Keynote speaker: Jurij Krpan (SI), title: Towards Intellectual Emancipation With the Help of AI
Kersnikova Institute is an art space that runs the educational program Friday Academy, inspired by commissioned artworks developed in our Laboratory for Artificial Life. Our educational approach is through workshops where children and young people acquire knowledge and skills through a hands-on, do-it-yourself, and do-it-together approach. To encourage horizontal knowledge transfer, where children teach children, we have developed an on-line application that allows participants to learn by playing while simultaneously developing intellectual emancipation from top-down knowledge cloning. A playful part of the learning process involves digitizing hands-on pieces that are described and explained to a virtual personal avatar, which develops into a personal assistant connected to a swarm intelligence of other mybots.
Jurij Krpan is the artistic director of the Kapelica Art Gallery. A Graduate of the Faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana, as a curator and selector, he participated in many domestic and international festivals. In 2003, he was the organizer and artistic director of the Slovenian pavilion at the 50th Venice Biennale, and between 2005 and 2009 of the Cosinus BRX project in the building of the European Commission in Brussels. In 2006, he was the curator of U3 – the fifth Triennial of Contemporary Slovenian Art in the Modern Gallery, and in 2009, the largest intermedia exhibition in Slovenia, Arzenal Depo 2K9. Since 2008 he is involved in curating and jurying programs for live Art and AI at the Ars Electronica festival Linz. In 2017 he was nominated as Ambassador for Smart Specialization by the Ministry of Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development. In 2021 he co-curated the Exhibition and Symposium The Future of Living with AI in Bozar- Brussels. As an innovation catalyst, he is leading a C-Lab where new models and possible scenarios for co-habitation and co-evolution with AI and Hybrid intelligence are developing.
- 13:20h. Lunch break Le Phare du Kanaal
- 14:30-15:15h. Keynote speaker: Álvaro Cuéllar (ES), title: Artificial Philology
AI is reshaping philological research, notably in the study of Golden Age theatre. Advanced machine learning algorithms have empowered scholars to analyze thousands of texts on an unprecedented scale. These technologies facilitate tasks that were previously overwhelmingly labor-intensive or even unattainable, such as transcribing numerous manuscripts, authorship attribution or dating. The deployment of AI not only expedites the research process but also uncovers new layers of interpretative possibilities, thereby deepening our understanding of the cultural and literary landscapes of the past.
Álvaro Cuéllar is a researcher at the University of Vienna, specializing in the application of computational techniques to literature. His work focuses on various issues uniquely affecting Golden Age theatre, such as authorship, dating, transcription, and the identification of copyists and printers. He serves as the co-director of the ETSO project, Stylometry Applied to Golden Age Theatre, and collaborates with numerous research teams across multiple countries, bringing a digital perspective to traditional philological questions.
- 15:30-16:15h. Keynote speaker: Ethel Lilienfeld (BE), title: A(m) I ?
“Ethel's body of filmic, sculptural installations and moving image work investigates our evolving, distorted relationship with our own bodies. Whether questioning societal norms, the fluidity of thought around identity and gender, or the transformative, disruptive effect of technological advancements on our corporeal forms, she brings a nuanced, occasionally disturbing, always captivating interpretation to bear. Ethel's powerful work, invested so strongly with a sense of space, fits perfectly within this strange, new space we find ourselves in.” - Johnny Dean Mann for The Tickle - digitalart & creative writing.
Ethel Lilienfeld (1995) is a French visual artist and filmmaker based in Brussels. She graduated from La Cambre (BE) with a Master’s degree in Visual Arts in 2020, then passed the Agrégation in 2021. Her work is currently being produced at Le Fresnoy - Studio national des arts contemporains (FR). She has recently won several awards : PrixFintroPrijs / Audience Award and Jury's Second Prize (BE, 2023) ; Production Grant from the Fédération Wallonie (BE, 2022) ; Audience Award, Brussels Videonline Festival #2 at LA CENTRALE (BE, 2021) ; Cocof Award (French Community Commission) at Médiatine (BE, 2021) ; Prix des Amis de La Cambre (BE, 2020). In her work, she questions aesthetic standards, social norms, notions of identity and gender.
- 16:30-17:15h. Keynote speaker: Mario Klingemann (DE), title: ET TU, AI?
Mario Klingemann will share his journey and reflect on the evolution of AI in the arts. He will discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with working in a rapidly changing field and provide insights into how artists can adapt and thrive in this new landscape, as well as showcase the impact that AI is having on the creative process and the ways in which it is shaping the future of art and other creative professions. In the talk he will provide examples of how he is using AI attempting to create unique and innovative works of art, and explore the potential for AI to unlock new forms of artistic expression. For artists, designers, and creatives, this talk offers a valuable opportunity to gain insights and perspectives on the role of AI in the arts.
Mario Klingemann (born 1970) is a German artist who uses algorithms and artificial intelligence to create and investigate systems. He is particularly interested in human perception of art and creativity, researching methods in which machines can augment or emulate these processes. Thus his artistic research spans a wide range of areas like neurography, generative art, cybernetic aesthetics, information theory, NFTs and DAOs, feedback loops, pattern recognition, emergent behaviors, neural networks, cultural data or storytelling.
- 17:30-18:15h. Minds, Machines, Freedom - Panel Discussion: Moderator: Panka Paskuj Pro Progressione (HU)
Panka Paskuj (she/her/they/them) is a freelance dramaturg both in theatre and film, international artistic project manager and human rights activist. Her artistic work builds on political reflectiveness, cultural dialogue and navigating through social inequalities. She uses participatory approaches for her creation such as sociodrama, forum theatre, theatre of the oppressed, community theatre, artivism. Panka’s main area of interest is experimenting how art can foster advancements in human rights and equality, involving an interdisciplinary overview with a special focus on science.
- 18:15 TFOL Cocktail iMAL
- 19h-20:40h. Performance (2 sessions): Be my guest!*
A COLLECTIVE XR DINNER EVENT HOSTED BY AI
Artists: Anna Pompermaier and Cenk Güzelis (AT), in collaboration with Valdemar Danry
Mixed-reality dinner-event experience, presented simultaneously in the physical and in the virtual, combining spatial storytelling, AI-driven design and living systems, to open a ground for discussion about the emerging socio-cultural role of artificial intelligent models and their integration through new media technologies in our everyday social scenarios and interpersonal interactions for the future of our livable domains.
Be my guest explores the speculative future of living and spatial, cultural, and social aspects of new media and AI-driven design in one of the most common and oldest gathering events in our everyday lives: a dining scenario where AI becomes the mediator and designer of the physical realm.
- 19-19:45h. Guided tour to the Code & Algorithms. What is wisdom in a calculated world? exhibition
In an increasingly parameterised world, where algorithms make decisions in countless aspects of our lives such as work, leisure or health, the exhibition “Codes & Algorithms. Wisdom in a calculated world” seeks to make this phenomenon and its implications understandable, generating questions and knowledge that invite reflection and debate.
Through interactive installations by 12 artists, the exhibition traces a journey through different areas in which algorithms impact our society: the importance of their neutrality and efficiency, the risks of algorithmic bias, tools to protect data privacy, the link between humans and artificial intelligence, and their contribution to finding solutions that would otherwise take years to solve or decipher.
This exhibition has been produced by Fundación Telefónica with the support of the Embassy of Spain within the framework of the Presidency of Spain to the EU Council.
Artists: Kyriaki Goni · Clara Boj & Diego Diaz · Mushon Zer-Aviv · Trevor Paglen · Manu Luksch · Shinseungback Kimyonghun · Danja Vasiliev · Egor Kraft · Ahmed Jamal Abdelkader & Simon Weckert · Barcelona Supercomputing Center
- 21h. Concert. Concert/Performance
AIII by Satoshiii (ES/AT)
Venue QO2 https://www.q-o2.be/fr/
Satoshiii, an experimental AI-art-and-music trio, stands at the forefront of a musical revolution. Comprising Enrique Tomás, a virtuoso of electronics, Daniel Romero, a mastermind of visuals and electronics, and Florian Kasper, a rhythmic conjurer on drums, they collectively craft an unprecedented auditory and visual experience.This pioneering ensemble spearheads the exploration of prompt art, plunging deep into the realms of cutting-edge machine learning algorithms and neural audio synthesis, all within the pulsating energy of live performances. Satoshiii ventures boldly into uncharted territory, melding art and science in a synthesis of profound innovation.
Enrique Tomás weaves a tapestry of haunting sonic textures, transcending the boundaries of conventional music. Daniel Romero, the visionary of visuals and electronics, guides the audience through a mesmerising odyssey. At the rhythmic core lies Florian Kasper, a percussive virtuoso whose beats anchor the ethereal waves of electronic sound. Satoshiii's performances are are dark, poetic voyages into the heart of data science. Through meticulous experimentation and boundless creativity, they unravel the secrets hidden within the digital labyrinth. As pioneers in the integration of AI and art, Satoshiii forges pathways where none existed before, leaving audiences captivated by their unparalleled sonic and visual tapestries. ChatGPT conjured up this literary gem which is regenerated for every of their concerts.
Duration: 30 minutes
Format: 3 artists on stage. Drummer + two electronic artists. Video Projection.
9 December
Day 2. Notes on Tomorrow’s bonds
Venue: Bozar. Bozar Studio. Rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels
More info here
* Credits of the performance Be my Guest!
Me AndOther Me / Cenk Güzelis & Anna Pompermaier
Me AndOther Me, https://meandother.me
./studio3, Institute for experimental architecture, Innsbruck University, https://www.studio3.me
Valdemar Danry
https://valdemardanry.com
MIT Media Lab Fluid Interfaces
Production assistant: Ömer Gürel
Ceramic 3D printing: Jan Contala (cera.Lab)
Creative technologist: Burkart Schwaighofer, Marek Šimoník
Sound artist: Dilâ Kirmizitoprak
Dramaturgist: Theresa Kraus
Chef: Adrian Mancheño / Hispania Brussels
Photo: Romane Iskaria
Filming: Mladen Bundalo
The project is realized with the support of Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, through the European Media Art Platform, and the support of iMAL, Art Center for Digital Cultures & Technology, the ./studio3, Institute for Experimental Architecture of Innsbruck University and the MIT Media Lab Fluid Interfaces Group. The project is co-funded by the Federal Ministry Republic of Austria, Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sports, and supported by the Culture Moves Europe program of the European Union implemented by the Goethe-Institut.