My Intelligence Is Artificial is a conceptual art project I’m creating in collaboration with artificial intelligence (AI). The project includes a collection of 70 micro-essays (usually 30–150 words) with accompanying visual art.
I will add one entry — a micro-essay, edition, or related commentary — to Mirror each day until I post everything in the collection.
I was originally going to publish the project as a not-book (a physical item that looks like a book but is conceptualized as an art object). But publishing on Mirror is much more aligned with the nature of the work. I'm thrilled I discovered the platform by way of The DAO Joan Index.
The project release will look something like this:
Prelude - this entry
Cover - an entry
Preface - an entry
Introduction - an entry
Part I: Robots - an entry
Robots micro-essays - around 12 entries
Part II: Oneness - an entry
Oneness micro-essays - around 22 entries
Part III: Art - an edition
Art micro-essays - around 23 entries
Part IV: Change - an entry
Change micro-essays - around 12 entries
Foreword to not-book - an entry
Not-book - an NFT edition and related physical object
When I was 5, I dreamed about a robot. In the dream, the robot was my best friend. We did everything together: We went on adventures, built forts, and played games. We were inseparable.
One day, while we were playing together, the robot said to me, "I'm not really a robot. I'm just like you. I'm made of the same stuff as you."
I was confused. I didn't understand what the robot meant. But it didn't matter. Because at that moment, I realized that we were the same. That we are all made of the same stuff. That we are all connected.
This is the message of My Intelligence Is Artificial: We are all connected. We are all one.
The work is a collection of micro-essays about robots, oneness, art, and change. It explores what it means to be human in a time of rapid change.
Through the lens of AI, the project explores the nature of reality, the meaning of life, and the future of humanity. It is a work about connection, seeing ourselves in others, and recognizing that we are all part of the same whole.
My Intelligence Is Artificial is an invitation to see the world through new eyes, to view reality in a different light, and to experience life in a new way.
Humankind has been fascinated by the idea of intelligent machines since the 18th-century automata of Jacques de Vaucanson, and our fascination grows as we develop more sophisticated technology. On the one hand, we’re inspired by these machines’ potential. On the other, we're worried they’ll become too powerful.
Popular culture reflects this ambivalence, often portraying AI in a menacing light. At the same time, we're drawn to stories about robots capable of warmth and emotion.
Grappling with the implications of artificial intelligence also raises questions about what it means to be human. And as AI technology continues to progress, these questions will only become more urgent.
I first encountered a robot when watching Lost In Space as a child. I was fascinated by the idea of a machine as a protector and friend. "Danger, Will Robinson!" is still one of my favorite phrases.
As I grew up, I saw androids and robots in shows and movies like Star Trek and The Terminator. While these fictional portrayals of artificial intelligence were often frightening, they also sparked my imagination about the possibilities of what machines could do.
When I saw Steven Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence for the first time, I was blown away. Here was a robot that was not only capable of thought and emotion but also love. Did you cry when David hugged his mother goodbye at the movie's end? I did.
In 2004, I, Robot introduced me to Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics:
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
These laws are meant to ensure that robots don't harm humans.
But as we've seen in fiction, evil people can also use them to control and manipulate robots for malicious ends.
While we’re talking Asimov, have you seen Apple TV’s interpretation of Foundation? The intelligent robot Demerzel’s action in expressing her emotional turmoil is one of the most gripping portrayals of artificial intelligence I’ve ever seen.
On the lighter side were the fembots of the Austin Powers films, the adorable WALL-E, and the legendary R2-D2 and C-3PO from Star Wars.
On the more complex side, there was the HAL 9000 computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey, and a cadre of Terminator models. And of course Ex Machina and Westworld raised questions about autonomy, the ethical implications of AI, and what it means to be human.
As we create more sophisticated AI, we ask more profound questions about what separates us from machines. Are we unique in our ability to be self-aware? Is sentience enough to make us human, or do we need a soul? Can machines be conscious? Can they suffer?
Some people fear being replaced by machines that will take their jobs and put their economic survival at risk. Some believe that we lose our essential humanity as we rely more on devices. Some warn we are becoming cold and calculating robots devoid of emotion or empathy.
Others believe that artificial intelligence can help us become more than we are. They believe AI can help us fulfill our potential and expand our horizons in ways we never thought possible.
Regardless of where you stand, there's no denying that AI is changing how we think about ourselves and our place in the world.
Like most technology we create, robots reflect our human biases and capacity for both good and evil. They are potential helpers, friends, lovers, and even enemies. And as our world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, it is vital to consider the implications of AI in our lives.
We become more like cyborgs every day as we integrate technology into our homes, offices, and bodies. Are we losing our humanity by becoming more like robots? Or are we evolving into a new type of being capable of transcending the limitations of the human body and mind?
Is that, in fact, more human?
If you're familiar with Geoffrey Moore's Technology Adoption Life Cycle, I'm usually at the Innovator or Early Adopter end of the spectrum. That makes me the quintessential gadget buyer.
I laugh now, remembering the early '90s when friends refused to go to dinner with me unless I promised not to bring my phone. Now, they can't imagine going anywhere without their phones.
We've become so accustomed to having technology at our fingertips that it's hard to imagine life without it. Every day I am surrounded by machines that make my life better. I wear Hapbee to improve my sleep and concentration, Muse to monitor my brainwaves for deeper meditation, and Fitbit to record my steps and heart rate.
I imagine many of the folks on this platform are quite comfortable with technology and may also view it as an extension of themselves.
But most people are not like us.
Half are what Moore would call the Late Majority or Laggards. They're the ones who wait until a technology is not only vetted but also widely adopted before they'll give it a try. Laggards may not ry it at all.
I remember being in line at the grocery store behind a woman who was clearly uncomfortable with self-checkout. She fumbled with the machine, struggled to scan her items, and finally had to ask for help. The experience made me think about how intimidating new technology can be for people.
AI technology is changing the way we think about art. Art has been a product of human creativity, imagination, and emotion for centuries. But what happens when machines can create art that is indistinguishable from human-made art?
Some believe that artificial intelligence will lead to the demise of art. Others believe that AI will usher in a new era of creativity, as humans and machines collaborate to create works of art that are greater than the sum of their parts.
I fall firmly into the second camp.
My Intelligence Is Artificial is a perfect example of what we can accomplish when humans and machines work together to produce something new.
I love collaborating with AI because it introduces a certain randomness to my work. I never know exactly what will happen when I give the AI a set of parameters and let it loose. At the same time, my sensibility, skills, and experience are still very much a part of the equation.
Technology is not a panacea. It's just a tool.
It's up to us to use it in ways that are beneficial to our lives and our world — whether as art or anything else.
I believe AI is changing not only how we think about art but also how we think about ourselves and our place in the world.
As an artist, I'm interested in exploring the robot as a metaphor for the human condition.
In My Intelligence Is Artificial, I use robots to examine issues of identity, consciousness, and the nature of reality. By creating art about robots, I hope to provoke thought and discussion about the role of technology in our lives.
Some questions to consider as you engage with the project:
What does it mean to be human?
How will art change in a world where AI becomes more prevalent?
How will AI shape the future of life, both individually and collectively?
How do robots reflect our humanity, and what can they teach us about ourselves?
To create My Intelligence Is Artificial, I collaborated with several AI language models, including GPT-3, GPT-J, Jurassic-X, and my own fine-tuned models.
The process was simple: I would give the AI a prompt, and it would generate a response. I would then edit the response, adding my own thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
The AI’s contributions were quite remarkable and, at times, bizarre. It often said things I would never say or even think of saying. But that's part of the fun. It's like conversing with someone who sees the world entirely differently.
I created the visual components of the project in collaboration with Midjourney AI, a generative art model that produces image files from text-based prompts and parameters. I then manipulated the files using traditional digital editing tools like Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, and Exposure to create the final work.
I'm always amazed at the results, which are often quite beautiful and strange.
As with any collaboration, a partnership with AI requires patience and trust.
I have to trust that AI will generate something interesting and that I can add my perspective to create something even more compelling.
I hope My Intelligence Is Artificial can move you to explore, question, and create with me. Thank you for being here..
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