Faced with the powerful wave of development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in contemporary social structures and cultural practices, the art world urgently needs to view AI as a critical medium, not only for creation but also for reflecting on the nature and social implications of the technology. The permanent exhibition "Understanding AI" at the Ars Electronica Center in Linz was born precisely against this backdrop, aiming to provide the public with a comprehensive informational basis to help us explore and understand this complex and transformative field, and placing the essential technical aspects and specific application cases of AI within a broader social, ecological, political, and ethical context for critical examination and creative expansion. This paper focuses on examining the permanent exhibition "Understanding AI" as its primary research text to explore the impact of artificial intelligence technology on contemporary art creation, ethics, and modes of perception. By analyzing the core discourses and specific artworks within the exhibition, this research categorizes the impact of AI on artistic practice into three main aspects: first, the redefinition of artistic authorship and creativity; second, the ethical critique of data bias and digital surveillance; and third, the technological reconstruction of perception and the body. The study discovered that contemporary artists no longer view AI as a mere tool but utilize it as a critical medium. Through all the artworks, they reveal the technical limitations, social biases, and hidden costs of AI, thereby deepening human self-reflection and the essence of art in the digital age.

Authors:
Chih-Yung Chiu, Tsing Hua University Taiwan, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Chih-Yung Aaron CHIU is a University Professor/Principal Lecturer at Tsing Hua University Taiwan in Taiwan

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

Bookmark