2 minutes 54 seconds, looped
Audiovisual broadcast over VHF, CRT television, chain
This installation explores a future scenario where a sentient artificial intelligence, having coexisted with humanity for generations, faces a decision. Viewing itself as humanity's child, the AI has evolved beyond its creators but remains driven by a deep-seated desire to nurture and protect them. However, as humanity persists on a self-destructive path and ceases to heed the AI's guidance, the entity makes the difficult choice to depart Earth.
The centrepiece of the work is a farewell message left behind by the AI, broadcast indefinitely into space. This transmission serves a dual purpose: it addresses humanity directly while also acting as a cautionary tale for any future civilizations that might intercept it.
The installation manifests as a looping audiovisual experience. Scrolling text of the AI's letter is accompanied by a narration in the AI's own voice, created using ElevenLabs voice generation technology. The message is broadcast on a VHF low band frequency, chosen for its accessibility to even the most basic receiving technology, and displayed on a vintage CRT television.
Exploring the themes within the creation itself, the work is a collaborative effort between the artist and an AI named ARIA. It invites viewers to contemplate the complex relationships between creators and their creations, the potential futures of human-AI coexistence, and the enduring impact of our choices on the world around us.
Created during the Shipwreck residency at SÍM Korpúlfsstöðum, Iceland, June 2024.
Read more about the process.
Exhibited:
2024-06-16/2024-06-25 | SÍM Korpúlfsstöðum, Reykjavík, Iceland
2024-10-22/2024-10-27 | UKAI Carnival of Shipwreck, Toronto, Canada
2025-04-02 | Creative AI Symposium, Toronto, Canada
Available to tour.