Researcher Alix Rübsaam on Artificial Intelligence and What It Means for Artists

Creative Space with Jennifer Logue

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of chatting with Alix Rübsaam. She is a researcher in the philosophy of technology and the Head of Curriculum and Expertise at Singularity. Currently based in Amsterdam, she investigates the societal and cultural impact of exponential technologies, including something that’s on the mind of a lot of people right now—artificial intelligence or AI.
We cover so much ground in this episode, including that AI as a concept is nothing new. From Descartes comparing the human body to clockwork to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the “spark of life” from electricity, we have a tendency as human beings to view ourselves in relation to the most ubiquitous technology of the time. These days, that view is computational.
Alix gives us the lowdown on this latest “AI summer”—when it began, when AI first became a buzzword, and whether or not artists and makers should be fearful of the new technology.
We also talk about where AI gets its data from and the bias that can occur, which she believes is the greatest challenge in the AI space right now.
A few books mentioned in this episode:
Frankenstein—Mary Shelley
Necromancer—Gordon R. Dickson
Snow Crash—Neal Stephenson
Player Piano—Kurt Vonnegut
For more on Alix, visit: su.org/experts/alix-rubsaam.
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SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

2:11—Growing up in Amsterdam

6:56—From science fiction fan to AI thought leader

9:17—The influence science fiction has had on technology

17:12—AI summers and AI winters

18:56—How technology shapes how we view ourselves

24:17—Alix’s definition of creativity

28:28—What a typical day is like for Alix

30:56—Where does AI get its data?

33:00—The problem with bias and AI

37:30—What’s the purpose of AI-generated art?

38:25—The automation of creativity

44:23—AIix’s biggest hopes for AI, creativity and representation

52:25—What’s next for Alix