AiDLab Real-world Artificial Intelligence Narratives

This lab aims to prototype new concepts, models and methodologies for the creation and dissemination of real-world narrative ecologies concerned or produced with AI, investigating their applications for pedagogy, communication and digital storytelling.

AiDLab Real-world Artificial Intelligence Narratives at the Royal College of Art aims to prototype new concepts, models and methodologies for the creation and dissemination of real-world narrative ecologies concerned or produced with AI, investigating their applications for pedagogy, communication and digital storytelling.

In the role of senior research associate (2022-2024) my investigations included
Magritte Variations
custom-made 3D viewer displays video created from StyleGAN images, such as This Cat Does Not Exist

I thought I was hearing citizens
installation and short film in collaboration with Mukul Patel

Atlas of the Liminal
This series of giclée prints traces transitional spaces, contested places, zones of exception, territories haunted by past innovation, frontiers lacerated by conflicting visions. Generated through algorithmic processes, machinic seeing unwraps three-dimensional image data onto the plane – obtaining perspectives alien to the human eye, and integrating the dimension of time where views overlap.

pAIn / Sonic Frottage
‘pAIn’ consists of a small electronic sound player and accompanying booklet. The device (based on a Zeptocore) replays sounds gathered from different points in the ecosystem around AI, from mining and chip manufacture, to assembly and training, to use and disposal of AI-related devices. Currently at prototype stage, it is intended as both an artwork and an inexpensive pedagogical aid that could be used in community and educational settings to raise awareness of our shared stakes and responsibilities. Each of the 16 buttons on the device contains four sound samples selected by invited contributors to represent a point in the ecosystem. The sound samples themselves will have derived from an authentic situation, and will be contextualised by a short text.

Research presentations included Ana-Cartography II at Floating Projects, Hong Kong (2024), radical⇌matter: when materialism is no longer enough, AIL – Angewandte Interdisciplinary Lab, Vienna (2024); None of the above, at Iklectik, Cromwell Place and SZN Gallery, London (2023)

Research associates: Jonathan Boyd, Matt Lewis, Manu Luksch, Mukul Patel, Shira Wachsmann, John Wild
Project lead: Prof Johnny Golding, Tom Simmons
AiDLab Real-world Artificial Intelligence Narratives is funded under the InnoHK Research Clusters, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government