Professor in Digital Culture and Society Mercedes Bunz explores the particular power of AI systems using work from contemporary artists to reveal the human misunderstanding regarding AI.

In her talk, Mercedes Bunz will dig into the ways contemporary AI systems ‘calculate meaning’ - a field traditionally assigned to culture. She will explore ways in which AI systems analyse our world, and could transform our culture by assisting us with their intelligence – albeit not human intelligence.

Using work from contemporary artists and researchers such as Memo Atken, Rafik Anadol, Stephanie Dinkins, Adam Harvey, and Allison Parrish, the talk will discuss not only how artists can help us in understanding the particular power of AI systems, but also how AI systems make sense of our world and symbols. At the same time, these playful, curious, and sometimes critical artistic approaches toward AI point to something else according to Mercedes Bunz: a profound human misunderstanding of the culture of AI.

The lecture will take place at the Goethe-Institut London as well as being streamed live online. The lecture will be followed by a Q&A and, for those attending in person, a reception in the Goethe-Institut Library.