The fifth festival edition of “Spy on Me” offers a stage for diverse connections between artificial intelligence (AI) and humans at HAU Hebbel am Ufer from October 9 to October 19, 2024. Despite, or perhaps because of, the apocalyptic discourse on AI, it is worth thinking about it and finding out what we (still) have in our hands to actively shape our relationship with technology.
Image above: Foto © NewfrontEars
The internationally invited artists are looking for physical and verbal ways of expressing the mathematical processes that underlie AI systems. AIs enter the stage both visibly and invisibly. They enter into a relationship with the audience, creating shared languages and spaces. In this way, the artists present performative translations for communication with technology, always aware of the gaps and dangers involved. The result is an exchange between man and machine that makes the technology accessible to the audience. A strategy that we also experience in our AI-supported everyday lives.
The major technology companies are currently investing a lot of resources in the development of emotional AI, a technology that is tailored to the needs of users. Machine imitations of human emotions, affects and facial expressions are being sought. The aim is to make machines not only “intelligent” but also “empathetic”. For example, chatbots say thank you for using them or interpersonal interaction, such as the feeling of emotional closeness, which previously seemed impossible to generate using computers, is now also technologically possible.
HAU presents ten days of theater, dance, performance, dialogue, games and interactive installations. The HAU2 foyer is designed by Constanza Carvajal. In addition, numerous digital interventions by the artist duo NewfrontEars, created in a collaborative process with an AI, will appear during the festival in the city, in the theater, online and in the festival newspaper.
With: Agnieszka Polska, Interrobang, Janne Kummer & collaborators, Agrupación Señor Serrano, Thomas Ryckewaert & Thomas Hertog, Theresa Reiwer, Choy Ka Fai, Johannes J. Jaruraak alias “Hungry”, dgtl fmnsm, Claudix Vanesix, doublelucky productions, NewfrontEars, Sarah Fartuun Heinze, Lena Biresch & Nico Parisius, Rik Lander & Phil D Hall, Clara Herrmann, Constanza Carvajal, Nora Wölfing, Sebastian Schneider
WHEN?
Festival dates: Wednesday, October 9 – Saturday, October 19, 2024
WHERE?
Hebbel-Theater Berlin Gesellschaft mbH
HAU Hebbel am Ufer
Stresemannstr. 29
10963 Berlin
COST?
Free admission
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