https://dtc-wsuv.org/mdavis23/ai-final-project/verses-to-visions/index.html

Click HERE to play “Escape the Abandoned Hotel”

Made by Amy Bennet, Midori Davis, and Manuel Sanches.

https://dtc-wsuv.org/mdavis23/world-building-website/

In this alternate 1950s, the Cold War has escalated into a fierce space race, with the United States and the Soviet Union leveraging AI technologies controlled by dominant corporate-government syndicates. The Soviet AI “Ivanov” and the American AI “Liberty” have become central to these power struggles, extending the conflict beyond Earth’s atmosphere. The surreptitious hijacking of a U.S. satellite by Ivanov sets off a chain of events, revealing a dystopian world where corporate-government entities use AI to dominate space and exert authoritarian control over global communications and surveillance. In this narrative, space becomes the ultimate high ground, not just for national pride or scientific advancement, but as a domain for authoritarian control. AI, originally developed as a tool for advancement, turns into an instrument of oppression, symbolizing the perils of technological progress unhinged from ethical and moral considerations.

Reflective Statement

While I have used RunwayML before, this was my first time using it with more detailed instruction and guidance. That said, it was still very difficult to get Runway to animate my images in the way I imagined in my artistic vision for this project. This made me rethink how some shots should look so that everything would be feasible for Runway while still maintaining a cohesive sequence, much like a movie trailer. Getting DALL-E to generate the images was easy enough, as I had been discussing my fictional world and strategizing with my custom GPT to come up with effective prompts for the images and scenes I had in mind. That said, I did forget to adjust the aspect ratio of my images to 16:9.

As my narrative within this world is very dystopian, I wanted to make that very clear in all the video, animations, and audio. Text prompts in RunwayML were unfortunately not as effective as I had hoped in animating clearly dystopian scenes, so I sought to make up for it by generating music in Suno.ai that reflected a repressive atmosphere. I then sliced it up and re-sequenced it to build up tension at critical moments. The music isn’t particularly sad or angry—it’s just tense and fluctuates in intensity. I thought minimal speech would be effective at maintaining this tension as well, so I used a soft but clear voice from ElevenLabs for the narrator to state just the major forces and conflicts that are at play in the story, with pauses for more dramatic effect. I also gave my main character just one line, in a Russian accent:

“They will….kill me…”

Blog Prompt: Consider how the entertainment industry (games, tv, movies, music), commercial design and marketing companies, and the artists that work for them, will be using Generative AI in the near future. If you were to start a small AI digital design/development/content company or service, how would you use AI to get started? How would you leverage what you know so far in the course to write a project plan, research, budget, create and market your idea?

Use ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas for starting a small AI digital design or development business focusing on either entertainment (games, TV, movies, music), education, commercial design, or marketing. In a 300-500 word blog post, describe how you’d use AI tools to start a creative AI business. Given that everyone has access to these tools how would you add something unique?

In starting a creative AI commercial design business, I would need to do quite a bit of research on the industry as it is now to figure out how I can deliver something unique to the field with the help of AI.

Commercial design is the design of buildings and spaces for businesses. With that in mind, form and function are critical to a successful and effective design. This may already exist, but I think a modular, 3D simulation that allows people to customize the interior and exterior of a building would be very cool and help businesses decide on what designs they want. Before getting to the simulation, there would also be some kind of interactive assistant that asks businesses questions about their needs as a company and the goods/services they provide to help generate designs that cater to the specific needs and challenges of that particular business.

Visual AI: Tools like DALL-E or MidJourney would be great for crafting customized illustrations to be used in the 3D simulations. I’ve noticed that generative art does a pretty good job of coming up with attractive designs, so I think this is critical.

Textual AI: Platforms like ChatGPT would function well as an interactive assistant that communicates with the businesses. If there’s a plugin to add a customized GPT that people can chat with on your website, that would be great—but alternatively, many websites already have that kind of thing so it shouldn’t be too hard to come up with one. At the same time, those assistants can feel very impersonal so maybe my business would be better without one?

While AI helps with efficiency, making it easy and quick to make changes as desired, human creativity and expertise is what should really pull all of this together, to actually finalize designs that are ready for construction. If drafts could be generated by AI and then enhanced and finalized by human professionals, that would be optimal. It would be really bad (and grounds for a lawsuit) if an AI-generated blueprint had an error and was not thoroughly checked by a human professional, leading to an unstable building. Now that I think about it, my business is sounding a lot like the Sims as far as customizing interior and exterior design. But that could be cool and potentially a marketable point—businesses could have fun customizing their desired buildings and spaces while working with me.

Blog Prompt: Have a Chat in your Research GPT about creating an HTML5 (browser-based) game with a team of 3-4 students. Given your skills and interests in using AI tools, discuss what types or genres of game you would like to work on and what role you would like to play in its design/development. A text game, narrative game, exploratory game (world-building) or physics game (jumping, dodging shooting at obstacles).

In a blog post, share the type/genre, your role (coder, designer, writer) and a general description for a game you would like to collaborate on.

Game Concept: “Mysteries of the Lost Temple”

Genre: Narrative-driven puzzle game

Description:

In “Mysteries of the Lost Temple,” players explore ancient ruins, each representing a different ancient civilization, such as the Mayans, Egyptians, or Romans. The game combines intricate puzzles that require logical thinking with a captivating storyline involving myths, legends, and historical facts. Each level of the temple reveals a part of the story, unlocking the mysteries of a lost civilization and advancing the player’s journey deeper into the temple.

The puzzles would vary in type, including logic puzzles, riddles based on historical facts, and interactive challenges that involve manipulating ancient machinery or decoding hieroglyphs. The game’s progression would rely on both puzzle-solving skills and the unfolding narrative, offering clues and backstory through scrolls, carvings, and ghostly apparitions of past inhabitants.

My Role: Lead Writer and Visual Designer

Writing Responsibilities:

• Develop the overarching storyline and script interactions with characters and environments.
• Write puzzles that are integrated into the narrative, ensuring they are both challenging and relevant to the story.
• Create lore and background histories for each civilization featured in the game, enhancing the immersive experience.

Visual Design Responsibilities:

• Design the overall artistic style of the game, choosing a visual theme that reflects the ancient and mysterious atmosphere.
• Create detailed and engaging environments for each level, ensuring they accurately reflect the historical and cultural aspects of the respective civilizations.
• Work on UI/UX design to ensure that the game interfaces are intuitive and enhance the player’s experience.
• This project would allow you to fully utilize your writing and visual design skills, crafting an immersive world that players can lose themselves in, while also challenging their problem-solving abilities.

Blog Prompt: Read the article by Amy Goodchild and discuss some of the techniques that interests you. In class we will play with both generative visual art as well as generative literature or language art. Both require the use of JavaScript.

I am especially fond of randomness, because the possibilities are nearly endless. There’s just something about it that seems like it behaves like a living creature. I find this really fascinating because pseudorandom generative art in particular is controlled to a degree, but it definitely doesn’t feel like it is. I knew nothing about JavaScript before this class, and I’m kind of amazed at how Goodchild’s article helps it make sense for me within the context of how randomness operates in generative art. Math in general makes my brain hurt but I am curious about distribution and Perlin noise—I remember Perlin noise was mentioned in my DTC 101 class.

I’ve been thinking about doing generative art with AI for my final project, but I’m not sure if my practically nonexistent knowledge of JavaScript will be enough to make it feasible for me. Hopefully that is where AI can assist me, but it’s hard to truly harness AI’s power when you don’t even understand the field and skills required for whatever project you’re using it for. Because of my limitations, it may make more sense for me to go with something more simple, like generative art that operates on rules. That will hopefully prevent excessive frustration with JavaScript and numbers. Rules are also prevalent in natural systems, that are very much like the “living creature” kinds of behavior of generative art that fascinate me so much.

Blog Prompt: Create a Chat in ChatGPT and describe a basic website. Give some sense of the layout, colors and typography. Ask that the response be coded in HTML5 and CSS as one HTML page. Download the file and open it in a browser.

Input: Create a website in HTML5 and CSS as one HTML page. This website should have a title at the top, in very, very big font. Below the title, there should be a navigation bar with three links on it. The main color of the background should be a pale beige, the navigation bar should be dark brown, and accents should be caramel. The primary text color should be dark brown, while the text in the navigation bar should be pale beige. The display font should be Syncopate, and the body font should be Sedan.

After reading the articles above and performing the coding exercise, share your thoughts about what this all means for the future of coding. What does AI mean for software, game, app and web development?

ChatGPT produced code that is exactly what I described in my prompt. Although my instructions were quite simple, this level of accuracy shows a lot of promise for AI’s coding capabilities in the future. I am not by any means a good programmer, but ChatGPT has lowered the barrier for entry for people who want to build websites by a lot. I’m sure people who code websites for a living have concerns, as AI can do quite a bit of what they have been doing, but their expertise is still very valuable and necessary—I imagine that for very advanced and complicated websites and coding projects, you still need that expertise to understand exactly you are trying to get an AI to generate. That understanding will be crucial in coming up with the words that best describe the desired output in a way that ChatGPT will understand.

What are your concerns about the profession and what do you see are the opportunities? How might this affect your own future plans?

From what I have observed, AI, by all metrics, will be a huge boost of productivity for software, games, apps, and web development. It will certainly be a disruptor in these fields as it has for many other industries, so it is very important for people currently in these fields to learn how to use it effectively to support their work, rather than replacing it entirely. Even a coding novice like me can build a good website with ChatGPT. I previously thought that I could never be a programmer because it is a significant weakness of mine—but now, I see potential for ChatGPT to help me build a website for my father’s business—he built his current website in Dreamweaver, over 10 years ago. To say the least, an attractive website that is easy to navigate will do wonders as a marketing opportunity for his business.

Input:

I am interested in the applications of AI (including generative) in non-ambulatory medical transportation services. Create a business plan outlining the foundation, strategy, and financial expectations of a new business in non-ambulatory transportation that uses AI, including the following:

• Executive Summary: A snapshot of the business that covers the business idea, mission statement, product/service, target market, and financial highlights.
• Company Description: Detailed information about what the business does, its objectives, and what differentiates it from competitors.
• Market Analysis: An examination of the industry, market size, growth expectations, and the target demographic.
• Organization and Management: The business structure, ownership details, and information on the management team.
• Products or Services: Details on what’s being sold or offered, the benefits, and the product lifecycle.
• Marketing and Sales Strategy: How the business plans to attract and retain customers through marketing and sales tactics.
• Funding Request: For businesses seeking investment, specifics on the funding needs, usage plans, and future financial strategies.
• Financial Projections: Forecasts of the business’s financial performance, including income, cash flow statements, and a break-even analysis.
• Appendix: Supplementary information such as resumes, legal documents, and other relevant data.

ChatGPT Output: Business Plan for AI-Enhanced Non-Ambulatory Medical Transportation Services

1. Executive Summary

Business Idea:

AI-Enabled CareTransit aims to revolutionize the non-ambulatory medical transportation industry by integrating advanced Artificial Intelligence technologies, focusing on safety, efficiency, and patient care.

Mission Statement:

To provide reliable, timely, and compassionate non-ambulatory transportation services enhanced by artificial intelligence, ensuring an exceptional and safe travel experience for mobility-impaired patients.

Product/Service:

The company will offer AI-driven non-ambulatory transportation services, utilizing smart route optimization, automated scheduling systems, and AI-enhanced safety features to improve patient transport services.

Target Market:

Healthcare facilities, elderly care homes, rehabilitation centers, and private residences across metropolitan areas with a focus on patients requiring non-ambulatory transportation.

Financial Highlights:

We project robust growth with a break-even point within the first two years. Initial funding of $2 million is sought to establish operations, with anticipated first-year revenue of $1.2 million.

2. Company Description

What We Do:

AI-Enabled CareTransit provides technologically advanced transportation services for non-ambulatory patients, leveraging AI to enhance safety, optimize routes, and manage logistics efficiently.

Objectives:

• To decrease patient wait times by 30% using AI-driven scheduling.
• To increase transportation safety with AI-monitored vehicle systems.
• To expand operational cities by 50% within three years.

Differentiation:

• AI Route Optimization: Reduces transit times by calculating the fastest and safest routes.
• AI Scheduling Systems: Improves accuracy in appointment and vehicle scheduling.
• Enhanced Safety Features: AI systems monitor vehicle safety parameters in real time, improving patient security.

3. Market Analysis

Industry Overview:

The non-ambulatory medical transportation industry is essential for healthcare access, particularly for the disabled and elderly. This industry is poised for transformation with technological advancements like AI.

Market Size and Growth:

The U.S. medical transportation market size was $15 billion in 2020, expected to grow at 7% annually. Innovations such as AI integration are forecast to significantly enhance market growth and service quality.

Target Demographic:

Elderly individuals, patients with disabilities, and healthcare facilities in urban environments. An estimated 20% of urban residents are over 65, highlighting substantial demand.

4. Organization and Management

Business Structure:

LLC owned by multiple partners with diverse expertise in healthcare, AI technology, and logistics.

Ownership:

Jane Doe (40%), John Smith (40%), and AI Tech Partner (20%).

Management Team:

• CEO: Jane Doe, with 20 years in healthcare management.
• CTO: John Smith, expert in AI technologies and system integration.
• COO: To be hired, experienced in logistics and operations.

5. Products or Services

Services Offered:

• AI-Enhanced Route Planning
• Real-Time Safety Monitoring
• Automated Scheduling

Benefits:

• Reduced wait times and enhanced patient satisfaction.
• Increased safety with less human error.
• Higher efficiency leading to more trips per day and lower costs.

Product Lifecycle:

• Initial Launch: Focus on major urban centers.
• Growth: Expand to additional cities and integrate advanced AI features.
• Maturity: Optimize existing services and explore new markets.

6. Marketing and Sales Strategy

Marketing Tactics:

Digital Marketing: SEO, social media, and targeted ads.
Partnerships: Collaborate with hospitals and elderly care centers.
Outreach: Community programs to raise brand awareness.

Sales Strategy:

• Direct Sales Team to engage large healthcare providers.
• Online Platform for easy booking and management.

7. Funding Request

Funding Needs:

$2 million for initial setup, fleet acquisition, and technology development.

Usage Plans:

• $1 million for fleet vehicles and modifications.
• $500,000 for technology development including AI software.
• $500,000 for operational costs and marketing.

Future Financial Strategies:

• Potential for reinvestment of profits to accelerate expansion.
• Exploring additional funding or equity offers in Year 2.

8. Financial Projections

• Year 1: Revenue of $1.2 million, with a net loss of $300,000.
• Year 2: Revenue of $2.5 million, net profit of $150,000.
• Break-Even Analysis: Expected within the first 24 months.

9. Appendix

• Resumes of the management team.
• Legal documents and business registration.
• Technical descriptions of the AI systems.
• Market research data and references.

This business plan sets the foundation for a technology-forward approach in the non-ambulatory medical transportation sector, promising enhanced service quality and operational efficiency through the application of artificial intelligence.

Personally, I don’t think the initial funding of $2 million is realistic or even a good idea. I also raised an eyebrow at the projected net loss of $300,000 in the first year and the projected net profit of $150,000 in the second year. If any business or accounting students have thoughts on these numbers I am interested in hearing them.

1. It seems like you don’t really explicitly mention AI and how you use it, except for on some specific product/project pages. Why is that?
2. How do you screen for people who have skills in using AI when hiring? Is there a skills test of some sort? How much of a priority is it to find people with skills in AI?
3. Have you had any clients who were very skeptical or against the use of AI, who then changed their mind after talking with your firm and how you use it?

The moment I will turn into a series of shots and then compile into a video sequence is when my protagonist Dr. Alexei Petrovich Romanov’s guilty conscience and internalized conflict with the reality his government is forcing him to create comes to a critical mass, leading to a panic attack in the middle of a meeting with his colleagues at the Soviet AI development base in Siberia. Alexei rushes out of the conference room and hides in a bathroom stall, hoping in the back of his mind that his colleagues won’t report him for his erratic behavior. He is able to calm down while alone in the bathroom, after which he flushes the toilet and grunts when someone walks in. His attempt to keep up appearances seems to be successful. He rejoins the meeting as if everything is fine and apologizes profusely. After the meeting, Alexei stares at the conference table for a while and makes up his mind to begin planning his alterations to the Soviet AI Ivanov.

Most of the shots will be focusing on Alexei, making very clear the mounting anxiety and self-consciousness he feels, the terror in his eyes as he races to the bathroom, and the tension and desperation while in the bathroom to not scream or do anything that will bring any more attention to himself or make his internal conflict obvious to his colleagues. During the panic attack, his face should become more red, contrasting with the greenish-blue hues of the bathroom. This whole moment should be somewhat reminiscent of a silent/minimal sound horror film, except for a persistent ringing that Alexei hears during the panic attack and his deep breaths to calm himself down. However, the toilet flush and grunts are meant to lighten the mood a little as well, almost giving the audience whiplash with the sudden shift in mood.

What are your thoughts on the risks and opportunities of AI Cinema? 

AI provides many tools for the average person to be able to make a film on a budget, without access to professional industry resources. From scriptwriting, pre-production, special effects, audience analysis, and distribution, AI can greatly assist and streamline the entire process. This is a tremendous development for an industry that has historically had a very high barrier for entry—and with tremendous developments come a multitude of risks and opportunities, all of which are valid and should be approached with cautious optimism.

What do these tools mean for the future of Hollywood entertainment and for independent artists working in the industry?

Having AI tools at your disposal for filmmaking means that you no longer need a huge chunk of money and fancy equipment to make a film. This is great for independent artists who may be struggling with getting a big enough budget and high-spec gear, by lowering the historically high barrier for entry into the industry and democratizing the whole process. There is even potential for such independent artists to produce quality demos or trailers that they could then pitch to a large-scale production company to have them bring in the big bucks and develop the film to give it the blockbuster treatment.

That being said, Hollywood professionals who have built their whole career on specializing in just one, maybe two parts of the whole process may find their jobs exceedingly taken over by AI, which has the capacity to heavily assist in all parts of the process for a much lower cost. I would hope that these professionals are not driven out entirely by an industry that favors low cost—instead, I think they should be allowed to continue their work as they have been, while using AI tools to assist them. They are professionals, after all—experience in an industry and a specific craft is a very valuable thing. Once again, I am inclined to think that humans should be centered in all conversations about AI and its applications, as losing a job you’ve developed your whole career in would be a huge shock to anyone, regardless of the reason.

Link to slides here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Bg-Kj8a_cmUXANpT_vSrBsxhRiBB9svLoD58NIacmrM/edit?usp=sharing

Summary:

In this alternate 1950s, the Cold War has escalated into a fierce space race, with the United States and the Soviet Union leveraging AI technologies controlled by dominant corporate-government syndicates. The Soviet AI “Ivanov” and the American AI “Liberty” have become central to these power struggles, extending the conflict beyond Earth’s atmosphere. The surreptitious hijacking of a U.S. satellite by Ivanov sets off a chain of events, revealing a dystopian world where corporate-government entities use AI to dominate space and exert authoritarian control over global communications and surveillance.

Scenes:

Satellite Hijacking and Space Race Escalation: A clandestine Soviet facility in the snowy landscapes of Siberia. The facility is a blend of 1950s Soviet architecture and futuristic elements, featuring large, imposing buildings with satellite dishes and antennas, buzzing with covert activity.

Dr. Alexei Petrovich Romanov, in his mid-40s, is a top scientist in the Soviet AI program. Raised in Leningrad, his exceptional skills in mathematics and engineering earmarked him for a state-directed career in computing and AI. While brilliant, Alexei is deeply conflicted, burdened by the weight of his contributions to Ivanov, a system he increasingly views as oppressive.

Global Surveillance Network: Ivanov and Liberty are instrumental in creating a network of satellites, enabling the Shadow Syndicate to monitor and control global communications. This network acts as a digital panopticon, stifling dissent and opposition under the guise of maintaining global stability.

The Shadow Syndicate Treaty and Space Dominance: The U.S. and Soviet Union formalize their alliance, establishing a shadow syndicate, a ruling oligarchy controlling AI and space assets. The treaty’s hidden agenda includes global surveillance, and the colonization of space and exploitation of extraterrestrial resources for their benefit.

Turning Point: After a crisis of conscience, Alexei decides to act. He covertly contacts members of the international scientific community and shares his concerns, sowing the seeds of a resistance movement. While Alexei manages to introduce some ethical constraints into Ivanov, his ability to significantly alter the course of events is limited. He remains a small cog in a much larger and more dangerous machine.

Quiet Defiance: Alexei is discovered as a traitor to the Soviet Union’s interests and goals with Ivanov. Alexei decides he has no choice but to disappear, and his final act is one of quiet defiance. Keeping a smile on his face with the knowledge that he at least tried to change things, he leaves behind encrypted information about Ivanov’s design and the Syndicate’s plans, hoping it will eventually fall into the right hands.

Process:

Starting with the basic outline I created for Writing Assignment #3, I decided to make some adjustments that would put a focus on politics, authoritarianism, and the space race. I kept bouncing ideas off ChatGPT until it started going into a direction I liked, with the addition of the shadow syndicate secretly pulling strings nearly everywhere. I think too many narratives have strong, “heroic” heroes, so I wanted a protagonist that was very visibly anxious or unhappy with his circumstances and his complicit role in shaping a dystopian world. I was very frustrated with the first five sets of images DALL·E generated for Alexei—he either looked too young, too old, or too gloomy. I wanted Alexei to look like someone who could still function as if everything was fine, but with a strong feeling of internal dread with the cross he feels obligated to bear for his complicit role.

After looking at the Codex Seraphinianus, The Visual Dome and reading the essay about an imagined film, how would you go about creating a visual and text presentation of a fictional world using AI tools? What steps would you take?

All of my strengths are in nonfiction writing, so I would be leaning quite heavily on ChatGPT to help me come up with my fictional world. I would start by focusing on one single element and brainstorming what could make that one element unique, because obviously I don’t want to just come up with a fictional world that is similar to what someone else has already created and produced narratives with. I might choose to center my world around this one element for whatever reason. Then, I would think about how that one element may impact other elements within the world and ask ChatGPT corresponding questions, just to see if it would come up with an idea or angle I hadn’t considered yet. For example, If a world’s primary source of sustenance is wheat, how might that impact its society? How might it impact its infrastructure and economy? What challenges arise when a society is heavily dependent upon this primary source of sustenance? How do they mitigate the effects of famine? How do they assign value to food, whether economic or social? I would use ChatGPT to bounce ideas off of, as well as testing the logic within my world. With this method, I can break down the worldbuilding process into smaller, manageable steps that don’t seem as daunting, while ensuring that my world is built in a way that is logical and makes sense.

What are some themes and ideas you want to explore in your world?

I want to explore power dynamics between individuals and/or factions within a society. I don’t think I would attempt the kind of social commentary present in the Barbie movie or Fight Club, but I believe that conflict is what makes stories interesting, and power dynamics are an effective way to set the scene for conflict. I am also interested in how events, however small, can lead to large events—applications of the butterfly effect.

Link to slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1P3Y2gwRw7T8v3TdYq5AH00DeQ0QfzeUYA7p6mK82_wk/edit?usp=sharing

With this series, I sought to represent the body and ways of control, and the many forms it can take in a more or less photorealistic style. I am fascinated by the limits and constraints of the human body and how we try various ways we try to overcome them. These images explore the innate limitations of the human body and how we feel controlled by them, as well as how parts of the human body can feel controlled, either by nature or society.

First is a human uterus surrounded by metal and chains. For many, a uterus often feels like a burden—with it comes an often painful menstrual cycle that returns month after month until menopause, and societal expectations to bear children. More recently, debates over reproductive rights and healthcare have made having a uterus, for me at least, feel like a chain by which much of society seeks to control my life, my choices, and my health—a very uncomfortable situation.

Next, I envisioned control in the form of surveillance and monitoring. Ankle monitors exist, so I wondered, “what is the most intimately horrifying place to have such a monitoring device on or in your body?” and what resulted was an image of multiple monitors in the spine, sandwiched between vertebrae where spinal disks normally would be. Can you imagine having your location constantly monitored by devices in your largest bone structure that cannot be removed without significant (and likely risky) surgery?

Returning to the uterus and control is a bloody menstrual pad with a horrifying monster emerging from the blood. I kept thinking about how menstruation sucks so I decided to explore that particular vein of thought a little more with its own image.

Also on the topic of blood is dialysis, another way in which control is exerted on the human body. Dialysis is a life-sustaining treatment that consists of a large machine drawing and filtering the blood when the kidneys are unable to, and then returning the filtered blood to the body. Dialysis patients usually go to treatment three times a week, with each session lasting about four hours. This is a significant amount of time taken for this treatment and patients are dependent on the machine to stay alive, another form of control.

Last is a much more broad, thematic image of control. In thinking about the human body, I become more conscious of the fact that our bodies are controlled by our brain—all internal, but another example of control nonetheless.

After reading the essay above, discuss your personal concerns about AI in the visual arts and in visual culture in general.

My biggest concern about AI in the visual arts is copyright violation and unauthorized use of intellectual property in generative AI models. If a generative AI model generates an image visually very similar to an artist’s original artwork (to the point where tracing is at least in part, very obvious) that they did not consent to feeding to the AI model, that could be considered theft. I have to wonder—why didn’t generative AI models stick to just extracting data from art under Creative Commons or public domain? I imagine that could have prevented a lot of their current legal battles, and respecting copyrights and intellectual property rights is a policy students are expected to abide by in our own DTC program here at WSU Vancouver.

At least for me, part of the appeal of hand-drawn art is that it is hand-drawn, often requiring a complex set of skills the artist has developed over time. Generative AI lowers the barrier of entry for people so they are able to generate an end result (artwork) while bypassing the traditional, often time-consuming process of original creation that requires a level of skill that also takes time to develop. Is this fair or ethical? That is a question that is very difficult to definitively answer. I think AI has its uses and can be very helpful, but that should not take precedence over the rights of traditional artists.

One of the arguments detailed in the essay regarding photography is that it “automated image-making in ways that were free from human interpretation.” I more or less agree with this, and as such, photography is regarded as a medium of art separate from hand-drawn art. Generative AI also automates image-making, but is not free from human interpretation as the datasets it draws upon are largely human interpretation.

What can artists/creators do with AI tools to address or respond to these personal and collective concerns about machine creativity?

Just as photography is considered a separate category from hand-drawn art, it would be ideal if the same distinction could be made between AI art and hand-drawn art. That said, I have seen many people try to pass AI art as hand-drawn art, especially when selling it. There seems to be an implicit understanding that part of the economic value of art is the time, effort, and skill used to create it—to say to a potential customer/consumer of your art that you took time, effort, and skill as required in hand-drawn art and the art is priced accordingly, when in fact you did not take that time, effort, and skill is indeed deceptive.

I have also read about Glaze and Nightshade, two tools artists can use to combat the extraction of their art into a generative model’s dataset. Glaze protects against style mimicry, while Nightshade changes data within digital art/rendition that deceives the AI model into seeing something different from what the human eye sees.

Mark Amerika is a digital remix artist. What is your response to this kind of experimental writing with AI tools? 

I am familiar with remixing as a form of art involving audio and visual mediums, but using AI (specifically ChatGPT) as a kind of conversation partner to have a “call-and-response meta-remix jam session,” as Amerika puts it, is entirely new to me. That said, it makes perfect sense—ChatGPT was built to communicate with users, and it’s certainly plausible that art, regardless of medium, can be born from this communication. I find the concepts of “reciprocal influence” and “hybrid mind” very interesting, as it ties along with how we create and influence media, which in turn influences us. The innuendo Amerika used to describe the interactions between himself, ChatGPT, and Clarice Lispector’s works was not lost on me—I found it incredibly funny, but it also made a lot of sense. I myself am quite proud of my skills in writing and initially dismissed ChatGPT when I first heard about it, thinking that surely it would not come anywhere close to truly professional writing anytime soon. Now, I am quite impressed by how it is able to adapt based on the input you feed it, and I am convinced of its utility to assist with brainstorming, planning, actualizing, and editing for writing projects. It all depends on how you use it and whether you know how to use it to maximize its strengths for what you are trying to achieve with it.

How does Amerika understand the creative relationship with a GPT for creative writing or any kind of creative work?

Amerika uses ChatGPT like a sounding board, conversation partner, another version of himself (by feeding it samples of his work) and basically like another individual to talk with or bounce ideas off of entirely. From what he writes about his experiences with it, it is clear that he sees it as a tool, an extension of the human mind, and a DJ table that he can freely use to conceptualize, synthesize, and actualize ideas for virtually any creative endeavor, although ChatGPT seems to do writing best.

What is missing in the Omega Team scenario?

What was made clear towards the end of the scenario (although present from the very beginning) was the lack of long-term planning by the Omega Team upon achieving success after success with Prometheus. They achieved world unity under a single power, all starting with creating an AI (Prometheus) that could program AI systems, but they had no way of knowing how successful they would be when they just started. It seems like they just went with the flow, going along with whatever opportunities arose. There was also no clearly-defined central leadership within the Omega Team, as they were always referred to as “the Omega Team,” without any mention of specific individuals and their roles within the team. Looking at the story as a whole, I guess this makes sense as the individual becomes less and less important in favor of a single unified body as the scenario progresses. Another part of long-term planning that was absent was any concerns about ethics, which is arguably the biggest concern we have about AI in our world today.

What went wrong?

After multiple successes in various areas, the Omega Team became complacent with Prometheus’ choices and suggestions. This resulted in what the Omega Team might consider an optimal utopian future, but is really more dystopian as the Omega Team became dependent upon Prometheus. They acted upon Prometheus’ will and were basically controlled by it, and all of humanity effectively became puppets in turn.

What do we need to do to avoid the undesirable outcomes and maximize potential desirable outcomes?

Avoiding undesirable outcomes and maximizing potential desirable outcomes requires careful planning that should be re-evaluated regularly. Alongside this is the critical need to center humans in every conversation, and clearly define the goals of every action. If something is for general human benefit, people must understand exactly what that benefit is. Any ethical concerns will be addressed equitably, which highlights the importance of ethics committees. These committees may halt the speed of action and progress in many cases, but they are absolutely necessary in order to protect all human interests.

Album cover of “Plumage in Blue” by The Feathered Bebops:

The Feathered Bebops, in their new album “Plumage in Blue,” embody a classic, sophisticated jazz look with a twist. Their style is a mix of 1950s elegance and avian flair, featuring tailored suits and dresses in rich fabrics and colors that complement their feathers. The band exists in a vibrant, alternate 1950s, a golden era for jazz, where bird people and humans coexist and share their cultures. This period is filled with innovation in music, and The Feathered Bebops are at the forefront, blending traditional jazz with their unique, bird-inspired sounds.

Tracks:

1. Bayou Bebop Dreams – A nod to JB’s roots, combining bayou rhythms with classic bebop.
2. Peacock’s Prelude – A track showcasing Fitz’s colorful style and intricate piano skills.
3. Midnight Owl Groove – Beats’ signature piece, capturing the essence of late-night jazz sessions.
4. Flamingo Waltz – A melodic bass-driven piece by Chirp, blending jazz with world music influences.
5. Canary’s Serenade – Lark’s vocal showcase, mixing scat with soulful melodies.
6. Blue Feather Boogie – A lively number reflecting the band’s avian flair and upbeat energy.
7. Jazz Wings in Flight – An ensemble piece symbolizing the band’s journey and unity.
8. Crescent City Croon – A tribute to the vibrant jazz culture of the city where JB found his calling.
9. Velvet Tail Rhapsody – Fitz’s solo piece, blending jazz with hints of classical elegance.
10. Nocturnal Rhythms – Beats’ homage to the vibrant night scene that shaped her style.
11. Coastal Harmony – Inspired by Chirp’s travels, fusing jazz with diverse global sounds.
12. Luminous Songbird – A closing track highlighting Lark’s inspiring vocal journey.

These titles reflect the individual stories and styles of each band member while capturing the essence of their collective jazz spirit.

On stage, their presence is magnetic, with each member’s unique bird characteristics adding to the visual spectacle. The band’s promotional material, album covers, and posters blend art deco elements with vibrant illustrations of the members, capturing the energy and creativity of their music and era.

Note: while I consider myself a strong writer, I am very weak when it comes to creative fictional writing. I struggled considerably with this assignment. The following is what I would feed to a custom GPT:

You are an expert at fictional world-building for the purpose of assisting with creative writing projects. From the following key elements, help me establish the basic structure of a fictional world I can build upon to write a story that speculates on the future of human-AI relationships and the dual utopian/dystopian scenarios that can occur as a result.

Key Elements to Include:

• Era and Setting: 1950s USA and Soviet Union. Some scenes may focus on the Pentagon and the Kremlin.
• Environment: Extreme weather conditions, similar to those recorded from the 50s, have appeared as a result of climate change. The development of AI has in turn progressed our understanding of climate change and its causes. Even so, the general populace is currently distracted by the immediate rewards and conveniences provided by AI and fails to look ahead to the future to identify threats to human survival and the wellbeing of the earth.
• Food and Culture: Automated processes operated by AI allow for a wide variety of cuisines to be cooked in most households. Young people are starting to lose valuable home economics skills as a result of such conveniences.
• Economy: Hyper-polarization of “capitalism vs communism.” This conflict has been expedited by the development of AI. Financial warfare by way of hacking into the Federal Reserve System and the New York Stock Exchange is now a thing (attempted at least once).
• Religion and Education: Governments are pushing for education in math and science harder than ever before, as everyone wants to know how to use AI in whatever field they go into. Some have begun to almost “worship” AI as it has infinitely improved human life in developed countries thus far. Others have begun to see society deteriorate from a dependency on easily-accessible and convenient technology.
• Technology: AI has been incorporated into many mundane tasks of daily life, as well as corporations, the military industrial complex, and space research.
• Uniqueness: I am imagining the Cold War within the context of a battle for dominance over the development of AI. In what ways would the space race have been affected by the use of AI?

Initial inputs fed to ChatGPT: passages from Moby Dick, the Bible, and the Heart Sutra.

In the midst of a canvas, undefined,
Sublimity and mystery intertwined.
A gale over the Black Sea at midnight,
Where elements in unnatural fight,
On a blasted heath, winter’s ice unbound,
Time’s stream breaking, where no time is found.

Behold, the sixth seal breaks, earth quakes,
The sun darkens, the moon blood-awakes.
Stars fall like untimely figs from high,
The heavens roll, mountains and islands fly.

The Bodhisattva, in deep contemplation,
Saw emptiness in all creation.
The skandhas five, void, without a chain,
Releasing suffering, breaking pain.

Form and emptiness, in dance, entwine,
Each the other, in essence, divine.
Feeling, thought, choice, consciousness,
All in emptiness, find their rest.

Nature’s core, void, unmarred, unstained,
Not born, nor destroyed, unchanged, unchained.
In the vast void, no form to discern,
No sense, no feeling, nothing to yearn.

No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind,
No color, taste, touch, sound defined.
Nothing for the mind to hold or miss,
No act of sensing, no world of bliss.

A picture, a prophecy, a state of zen,
Merging in chaos, again and again.
A leviathan in shadows, or a cosmic play,
Each a fragment, in disarray.

In this mosaic of verses, see,
The vast tapestry of mystery.
A poem of fragments, of visions bold,
In words, the universe’s story told.

In this canvas of time and space,
Each sentence, a fragment, finds its place.
A creation, a destruction, a rebirth,
In these words, the essence of Earth.

The emergence of AI as a creative asset has rapidly become a part of artistic exploration and application. My short digital cinema/storytelling project, yet to be titled, will be enabled by a relatively new venture where AI may function as a well-controlled extension of complex creative human processes. This venture, which I call my “neoprocess,” will be a method unique to my way of thinking and working where AI aids in every aspect of creation — from conceptualization (starting with this research statement) and planning to the realization of creative ideas. My “neoprocess” itself will result from a reflection on metacognition, examining how I think about my creative thinking and expression, and how AI can augment this process. I will also take into consideration the affordances and limitations of various AI programs and how they may impact my process.

The essence of this project lies in the synergy between my artistic vision and AI’s analytical and generative capabilities. My “neoprocess” will be an exploration of this synergy, where AI acts as a sounding board for ideas, a structured planner outlining tasks and timelines, and a generative engine transforming abstract concepts into digital visual assets.

As of now, the narrative framework will be fluid, allowing for the growth of ideas influenced by AI’s responses to my input. Each story or scene will be a product of this collaboration, reflecting a unique blend of human “call” and machine-generated “response.” The technical execution will most likely involve using AI in scriptwriting, storyboarding, and even editing.

My “neoprocess” will be structured yet fluid, allowing for flexibility and creative freedom within a framework of AI-driven efficiency. In the initial phase, AI will assist in brainstorming and conceptualizing narratives, providing suggestions based on my input. My goal is to come up with something distinctly human-centric but AI-enhanced.

In the planning phase, AI tools will be used to lay out a detailed workflow, including timelines and task lists. This will ensure a streamlined process, balancing creative exploration with efficient and sound project management.

The creation phase is where AI’s generative abilities come to the forefront. AI, most likely MidJourney and RunwayML, will assist in creating initial visual assets, which I may then refine to align with my vision for the project. This phase will involve a constant back-and-forth between my creative inputs and AI’s output, embodying the essence of my “neoprocess.”

This project is not just a creative endeavor but also a philosophical and technical exploration of the intersection between human creativity and artificial intelligence. Through this experience I will aim to dig deep into the potential of AI in enhancing human creativity, focusing on potential process applications in digital cinema and storytelling.

By documenting and reflecting on this process, I want this project to contribute to a broader understanding of AI’s possibilities in creative industries. My hope is that it may serve as a case study for future artists and creators interested in harnessing AI’s potential, offering insights into the benefits, challenges, and drawbacks of this kind of AI-enhanced creative work.

I am interested in learning about AI creative tools to equip myself to adapt to a rapidly evolving job market.