In order to develop fresh stories and visions about AI technology, Dreaming Beyond AI is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative web-based project that brings together artists, researchers, activists, and policymakers. The initiative intends to make it possible to comprehend how AI technologies affect inequalities and to challenge popular AI narratives and enforced future visions. The initiative was developed in collaboration with the ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen) and was conceptualized and organized by Nushin Yazdani and Raziye Buse Etin.
Dreaming Beyond AI acts as a container for (re)defining our technological present and possible futures with artistic and activist voices from the margins. The first phase of the project holds a diverse range of contributions such as articles, music, AI-generated artworks and other forms of digital works by artists, researchers and activists including Tabita Rezaire, Neema Githere & Petja Ivanova, Sarah Chander, Seeta Peña Gangadharan, allapopp, Lucas LaRochelle, Adriaan Odendaal, allapop, Charlie, Elif Sansoy & Max Ardito, Idil Galip, Jilian Zhong, Joycelyn Longdon, Vanessa Opoku, Karla Zavala Barreda, Dr. Nakeema Stefflbauer, Nushin Yazdani, Ulla Heinrich, Zas Ieluhee, Tadleeh, Moisés Horta, Naya, Omnia Elbasheer and others.
A dynamic and relational experiment is Dreaming Beyond AI. The web platform, created and programmed by Iyo Bisseck, provides a unique approach to experience many kinds of critical thinking and creativity. AI Violence, Intelligence, Machine Vision and Feeling, Patterns, Refusal, Planet Earth & Infrastructure, AI & Relationality, and Future-Present Vibrations are only a few of the themes and subjects covered by the various contributions. The themes seek to dispel common misconceptions and flawed assumptions about artificial intelligence (AI) as a technology, a business, a scientific discipline, and an ideology in order to pave the way for new, feminized, decolonial paths that support both individual and collective freedom while protecting the environment. Dreaming Beyond AI is designed as an iterative project, so new ideas and contributions will be explored every term.
As part of the exhibition tenderness intelligences, the digital launch event will be place on July 7, 2022, at 5 p.m. CET (B-LA). The launch event will feature the curatorial statement, a video overview of the web platform, an opportunity to meet the contributors, and lightning talks with Sarah Chander on challenging harmful technology and the need to dream beyond, Neema Githere and Petja Ivanova on mycelium technologies and on challenging intelligence narratives, and Alla Popp on ideas for queer feminist AIs. A community co-creation workshop for the Dreaming Beyond AI 2023 creative residency program will wrap up the event.