We will interrogate the role of design in the age of generative AI systems. What constitutes design when creativity can be algorithmically generated? This segment will explore AI as both a collaborator and a disruptor in the creative process.
THEORY OF AI [Another Intelligence]
Imag(in)e: The Theory of AI from a Social and Ethical Perspective
MaCAD AIA THEORY SEMINAR
Course Overview:
In this transformative era, our course will embark on an intellectual journey into the realms of artificial intelligence (AI), exploring its theories and designs through the lens of social and ethical considerations. We are at a pivotal moment in history, where the evolution of technological intelligence, born from computational algorithms and machine learning, is reshaping our world. This course aims to dissect the implications of these advancements, questioning the very fabric of human and technological coexistence and biological and technological difference.
Context and Background:
The 21st century has witnessed a global destabilisation of political climates and social frameworks, influenced heavily by biopolitical forces and the Anthropocene—a term Elizabeth Povinelli describes as the interplay between biopower (Living Matter) and geontopower (Non-Living Matter). This era of technological advancement, characterised by a computational revolution, challenges our preconceived notions of AI and its capabilities. The blur between human and technological nature has never been more pronounced, necessitating a critical examination of AI’s role in our technologically mediated lives. The philosophy of Gilbert Simondon joins these historically separated realms and renders possible a common bio-technological evolutions through “individuation”.
AI’s computational models offer unparalleled insights into our world, transcending the limitations of human senses and understanding. This course will explore the historical context of computation, initially aimed at simulating biological phenomena, and its evolution into a tool for archiving, classifying, and indexing Earth’s geological and biological data.
Philosophical Foundations:
Drawing on Henry Bergson’s distinction between biological and anorganic matter, highlighted by the concept of Élan Vital, we will delve into the philosophical underpinnings of life’s driving forces. This exploration will extend to Aristotle’s notions of energeia and dynamis, providing a framework for understanding the dynamic interplay between potentiality and actuality in both nature and technology. Friedrich W. J. Schelling’s philosophical influential work “Ideas for a Philosophy of Nature ” shall give us a guideline for an idea for a General (other) Intelligence.
Course Themes and Objectives:
Methodology:
Through a blend of lectures/seminars, and active discussions, students will engage with AI technologies, theoretical frameworks, and ethical dilemmas. Collaborative projects will encourage exploration beyond traditional boundaries, fostering an environment of critical thinking and innovative problem-solving.
A Self-Reflection on AI’s Replication and Innovation in Architecture Our group explores the topic of AI-chitect, a self reflection on AI’s replication and innovation in architecture. The proposal is to initialise Vitruvius’ De Architectura using RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) and set the volume of text as a knowledge base from which our journey as the AI-chitect … Read more
An imaginary scenario where we dig into one of this era’s social norms but in the upcoming age of intellegence.
Introduction The architectural profession is on the cusp of taking a revolutionary turn with the emergence of AI that is rapidly gaining momentum, but, in the midst of potentially great deviations that will come along not because of the involvement of AI in the architectural design, there exists certain downsides to it that must be … Read more
In our increasingly interconnected world, the relationship between humans and AI has often been characterized by a master-slave dynamic. This imbalance raises significant ethical and social implications, necessitating a shift towards mutual respect and collaboration. Our vision reimagines societal structures as rhizomatic connections: non-hierarchical, interconnected, and decentralized. We envision a coalition of all intelligences—biological, artificial, … Read more
Our study aims to explore the history and impact of artificial intelligence on interactions of young people, examining how integrating AI technologies into everyday life influences self-perception and interpersonal interactions, ultimately transforming societal structures and relationships. The pervasive presence of AI in the lives of young people is reshaping social norms and identities, blurring the … Read more
Introduction In 1950, Alan Turing posed a fundamental question, “Can machines think?”. Our exploration aims to extend this quest by considering additional questions: can machines develop the higher-order thinking described, as described in Bloom’s taxonomy? Can they create, dream, or imagine? To understand imagination and machine creation, we first examine perception, i.e., the processes of … Read more
Will There Be a Way to Formulate City Theories in 2125? Will It Be Based on Human Knowledge or AI-Generated Knowledge?” (Past) PROPHECIES in the PRESENT “If machines contribute to social intelligence, it will not be because they have learned how to think like us but because we have learned how to communicate with them”. … Read more
