A stirring debate.

Above is a still from the ICCL event I took part in a fortnight ago, 'Human Rights at Risk: AI and Facial Recognition Tech in the Arts' in the fantastic venue of The Complex in Dublin, which was a success, with a surprisingly good turnout, despite the biblical downpour of the evening (here I am being interviewed by Karlin  Lillington, tech writer of The Irish Times).

Different perspectives about the impact of AI and FRT in the arts were discussed, including some points (from writer Joanna Walsh) very much in favour of exploring the possibilities of this new technology - an approach I hadn't considered due to my own experience, but an interesting one to consider, nonetheless.

As Olga Cronin of the ICCL argued, FRT also poses a huge threat to human rights globally, and combined with the biometric and intellectual data scraping that AI is doing across the board, it made for a very grim discussion at times.

However, there is always hope for a brighter future, and consensus was that artists could use this time to make interesting work about what is going on - that the precarious and worrisome now offers an opportunity to break new ground and reach further than ever before, touching hearts and minds, as well as opening them. Which is what's needed of course, if humans are to win out against the machines (or to be more precise, the other humans who have created them).

Much to ponder, much to create.

The AI discussion rambles on in ever-new iterations, and this certainly won't be my last post on the topic!

If the prospect of FRT in Ireland frightens you (and it probably should) you can sign the ICCL's petition against its introduction (both covertly and overtly) here:


                                                          I DO NOT CONSENT TO FRT