“Liberate the possible from the tyranny of the probable.” (Dan McQuillan, Goldsmith University)
About:
In this module, we will combine theoretical and technical/practical approaches to AI, trying to develop a critical perspective and some hands-on experience at the same time. Our starting point is to consider «Artificial Intelligence» (AI) as a historical-material practice, that is, shaped by the concrete conditions of its development and use.
In particular, we want to look at the issue of “normalization”, the tendency of generative AI to create very similar-looking content, drawn from a relatively narrow range of possibilities.
Thus, we will look at contemporary artistic practices, read key texts to contextualize the development of AI within techno-capitalism, and have with guests who introduce us to the technologies that make AI appear intelligent and discuss their own (artistic) practices.
Date, Times, Location: Mo 04.03. - Fr 08.03., 09:15 -17:00, Room ZT 6.K04
“Introduction to Machine Learning”:
Guest: Alexandre Puttick (Latent Spaces Reserch Projekt).
Understanding the Latent Space: Basic mathematical operations. Slides
Playing a Game: Semantle.com
The Issue of Normalization
Sources of Normalization
Guest: Eva Cetinic: Critical Perspectives on Generative AI: An Overview of Main Topics
This lecture will provide an overview of some of the recurring topics in the critical analysis of contemporary generative AI technologies. With a particular focus on generative text-to-image models, we will discuss some of the most frequently addressed themes in the critical reading of those models, such as bias and stereotypes; data laundering; limitations of prompting; authorship and anthropomorphization; impact on creative and media industries; aesthetic homogenization; etc. The goal of this lecture is to foster a deeper understanding of these topics and stimulate a discussion on the implications, constrains and opportunities that these problematic aspects of generative AI provide in the context of art and creativity.
Morning
Colonialism / Post-colonialism
Historical Process (1492-1974)
https://brilliantmaps.com/colonialism-history
System of Dispossession
“Colonialism = Thingification” (Aimé Césaire, Discourse on Colonialism)
Digital Colonialism
De-colonizing AI
11:30 - 13:00 Nora Al Bardi (via Zoom)
Afternoon
Denormalization: The strange case of LOAB
Negative Weighted Prompts
Non-Normal Speech
Experiments with animal voices https://latentspaces.zhdk.ch/birdbot/
Waldrapp Field Recordings https://xeno-canto.org/361510
Voice Cloning https://replicate.com/afiaka87/tortoise-tts
Morning:
80% happy:Computer and Emotions
Paul Eckmann Universal Facial Expressions
Wikipedia Emotion Classification
Content analysis vs. behavioral analysis (involuntary facial expressions, gait, typing, biometric data…)
Crawford, Kate. Atlas of AI: power, politics, and the planetary costs of artificial intelligence. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2021.Chapter 5: Affect
OBJECTIVE OR BIASED On the questionable use of Artificial Intelligence for job applications, 02.2021
Afternoon: 13:30 -16:30 RAUM: ZT 1.D07 Probebühne
Guest: Manuel Hendry & the angry chatbot
→ 16:30 Cory Arcangel's Presentation (see pad)
Morning
Individual Work on de-normalized generation.
Possibility of personal “mentorat”
Afternoon
One more game to play
Sharing of images and strategies
Round of Feedback