Digitalization and AI
In November 2024, DE/MO foundation launched ECHO with the Campaign Design
Sprint in Amsterdam, where participants
explored the implications of digitization
and AI on creativity, democracy
and human connection.
The Echo Events
1. Future Beyond Imaginaries
10 January, 2025 @ Nxt Lab, Amsterdam
Adil Boughlala, Ioanna Chasikou, Bas Jansen,
Caitlin van Bommel, Elena Zaghis Parpinello
The ECHO Event centered on the theme
of AI and Speculative Futures, using the five thematic pillars—Ecology, Culture, Regulation, Connection, and Knowledge—to structure an exploration of how artificial intelligence might reshape different dimensions of human
experience. The campaign aimed to challenge reductive narratives around AI and inspire the audience to imagine nuanced and alternative futures shaped by its influence.
The event was structured as an engaging exploration of speculative design artifacts, in the form of an exhibit and a thought-provoking guest speaker. A special highlight was the guest lecture by Rasa Bocyte (Sound & Vision - Research & Heritage, Hilversum), who provided fascinating perspectives on using heritage and culture
to critically examine AI, adding depth to the discussions sparked by our exhibition.
Visitors are invited to envision their own future scenarios where AI has (re)shaped the world
after seeing the exhibition. Through contributions
to a collaborative pinboard, they can add their voices to this evolving conversation about our collective destiny. The event was a success
with a lot of interesting conversations and input
on the pinboard.
2. #UseYourBrain - AI Thought Saloon
21 January, 2025 @ Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (KABK)
Ilja Kolosovs, Joyce den Hertog, Maarten Both, Praya Aisyah & Puck Wagemaker
Our event, the #UseYourBrain AI Thought Saloon explored the question: "Is convenience the price
we pay for losing critical thinking?” The event aimed to inspire the audience to think more critically about AI and use it more intentionally.
The focus was on bridging the gap between two groups: AI enthusiasts, who see the technology
as flawless and use it for almost everything in their daily lives, and AI sceptics, who are reluctant
to use AI. Our goal was to encourage balanced critical thinking about AI - to encourage users to carefully evaluate AI results and develop
a nuanced mindset when interacting with AI.
We kicked off the event by sharing more about
us and our online campaign, in particular
the ideation process, and listing the things
we think you should be critical about.
The keynote speaker at our event was Emma Beauxis-Aussalet, Professor of Ethical AI at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Emma took the audience through a list of critical checkpoints when
engaging with AI, offering new perspectives.
She challenged the audience to think about the wider implications of the convenience-driven adoption of AI, highlighting blind spots
in our collective understanding.
Following Emma's insights, we hosted an open discussion between the audience and a team
of panellists, which provided a good debate.
3. This Event was AI Generated
21 January, 2025 @ Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (KABK)
Ilja Kolosovs, Joyce den Hertog, Maarten Both, Praya Aisyah & Puck Wagemaker
Our campaign focused on the impact
of AI on the arts and specifically on the ways in which AI is presented as capable of replicating,
and eventually replacing, human creativity.
We believe that the generative capabilities
of AI are used as an excuse to keep defunding
the cultural sector. For this reason, our campaign worked on two levels. First, we issued a call (represented by an online petition) for stopping
the defunding of culture in the Netherlands and asked people to stand by the side of creative professionals. Second, we organized the event
at Cinetol to give the audience an experience
of how the generic replications that AI-generated art is comprised of lack a fundamental emotional core inherent in live human-to-human artistic exchange.
Our campaign was targeted to a younger
audience (20-35 years old) that can already
witness the incorporation of AI in their favourite
art genres and imagine a future when this is the norm. For this reason, we chose to center the
event around two performances by young artists, musician Lilo Milova and spoken-word poet Razeen. The artists started each of their performances by interpreting a song/poem
created with AI, with the specific prompt of producing a work in the style of the artists themselves. The artists performed this piece
and then moved on to their actual performances, letting the audience feel for themselves and form their own thoughts on how they connected with what they encountered. After each performance, the host of the evening, which was a member
of our team, did a short interview with the artists
on how they perceived this piece that was supposed to mimic their work and how they felt when having to perform it.
Ilja Kolosovs, Joyce den Hertog, Maarten Both, Praya Aisyah & Puck Wagemaker
Our campaign focused on the impact
of AI on the arts and specifically on the ways in which AI is presented as capable of replicating,
and eventually replacing, human creativity.
We believe that the generative capabilities
of AI are used as an excuse to keep defunding
the cultural sector. For this reason, our campaign worked on two levels. First, we issued a call (represented by an online petition) for stopping
the defunding of culture in the Netherlands and asked people to stand by the side of creative professionals. Second, we organized the event
at Cinetol to give the audience an experience
of how the generic replications that AI-generated art is comprised of lack a fundamental emotional core inherent in live human-to-human artistic exchange.
Our campaign was targeted to a younger
audience (20-35 years old) that can already
witness the incorporation of AI in their favourite
art genres and imagine a future when this is the norm. For this reason, we chose to center the
event around two performances by young artists, musician Lilo Milova and spoken-word poet Razeen. The artists started each of their performances by interpreting a song/poem
created with AI, with the specific prompt of producing a work in the style of the artists themselves. The artists performed this piece
and then moved on to their actual performances, letting the audience feel for themselves and form their own thoughts on how they connected with what they encountered. After each performance, the host of the evening, which was a member
of our team, did a short interview with the artists
on how they perceived this piece that was supposed to mimic their work and how they felt when having to perform it.