Supercharged by AI: A new creative intervention about the effects of AI on our online lives
4 minutes read | First published: October 22, 2024
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From chatbots to deepfakes, AI-generated content is becoming increasingly common online. New AI tools make it easier, faster and cheaper to generate text, images, videos, and more. In turn, the harms that have always existed online – scams, harassment, polarisation and bias – are now being “supercharged” by AI.
AI tools are being used to fabricate news, imitate reality, and shape public opinions and behaviours in ways that can be almost impossible to detect. AI models, trained on datasets that reflect their creators’ biases, reinforce stereotypes and lead to consequences that stretch beyond the digital sphere. How can we stay informed and aware of this rapidly-changing technology?
“Supercharged by AI” is a new creative intervention produced by Tactical Tech and DensityDesign Lab at Politecnico di Milano, in collaboration with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
This exhibition will address how AI is impacting the ways that media and information is produced, distributed and perceived. It is presented by The Glass Room, an award-winning project by Tactical Tech that raises awareness through playful and provocative explorations of our relationship to technology.
“Supercharged by AI” is an easy-to-produce, large-scale display that can be presented in libraries, community centres, universities, festivals and museums. It contains engaging resources – including 3 visualisations, 2 books and an interactive poster and a detailed set-up guide – that make complex issues related to AI more tangible for visitors.
“Supercharged by AI” is complemented by the Data Detox Kit’s new Essential Guide to AI, which provides practical tips for what to do when we are confronted with these issues in our online lives.
Starting November 2024, this brand new exhibition about AI’s societal impacts will be traveling through 50 libraries in Europe. All the upcoming events can be found on theglassroom.org/
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The intervention is produced by Tactical Tech in collaboration with DensityDesign Lab at Politecnico di Milano and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and generously supported by the European Media & Information Fund, managed by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
About our partners and funder
DensityDesign Lab, Design Department at the Politecnico di Milano
DensityDesign is a research lab at the Design Department of Politecnico di Milano, Italy — a scientific-technological university, which trains engineers, architects and designers. DensityDesign’s research revolves around information visualisation, tackling the design challenges arising from the visual exploration and communication of social and cultural phenomena.
The Glass Room, A project from Tactical Tech
Today more than ever, we need to reflect critically on our relationship with technology. How do digital technologies impact the way we get informed and make decisions? How can we as a society face the 'side-effects' of an increasingly data-driven world? At Tactical Tech, a Berlin-based non-profit organisation, we design and co-develop playful and forward-looking experiences, interventions, events and educational resources that invite people to think about how technology influences their lives and changes the world they live in. Since 2013, we have joined forces with a global network of partners and civil society organisations, collaborating at the intersection of technology, research, design and art on projects that promote conversations and encourage proactive solutions.
International Federation of Library Associations Website
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the global organisation for libraries of all sorts. With a mission to inspire, engage, enable and connect the global library field, it works as a platform for professionals from around the world to come together to exchange ideas and experiences and develop guidelines and standards to support the provision of excellent library services to all. It is also strongly engaged in work to build advocacy for libraries at all levels, in order to enable them to fulfill their potential to support inclusive sustainable development.
IFLA Library Networks who are part of this initiative:
National and University Library in Zagreb (Croatia); Czech National Library (Czech Republic); Estonian Librarians Association (Estonia); Association of Greek librarians (Greece); Associazione Italiana Biblioteche (Italy); Rede de Bibliotecas Escolares (Portugal); Romanian Library Association & West University of Timisoara (Romania); Biblioteca Pública Municipal de Paterna del Campo (Spain); Ukrainian Library Association (Ukraine) and International Association of University Libraries (United Kingdom).
Find out more: www.theglassroom.org/supercharged-by-ai/