Alongside the rich and diverse screening program of Ars Electronica Animation Festival, we’re thrilled to announce that several artists awarded at Prix 2024 will be joining us at medSPACE and Deep Space 8k to present their work in person.
The Human Labour Behind AI Systems
Nicolas Gourault will introduce his documentary Unknown Label, which explores the daily reality of online micro-workers from the Global South who annotate images for self-driving cars. The film begins with a simple, monochromatic animation depicting the segmentation process, introducing viewers to the unseen individuals who label training data for AI systems. As the narrative explores the intricacies of their work, social dynamics, and the discrimination these workers face, the animated visuals become progressively more complex. The story culminates in a city-scale 3D data visualization, showcasing the immense amount of hidden human labor involved in training AI systems. The documentary skillfully navigates complicated themes with both clarity and empathy, deepening the dialogue on AI ethics and globalization.
After watching the film, a 20-minute artist talk and in-depth discussion with Nicolas Gourault will follow, delving into the research and motivations behind this project. Participants will also address ways in which his approach expands the field of new animation art while at the same time redefining the documentary film format.
The MEET THE ARTIST event series will also feature:
- Award of Distinction winners Timothy Thomasson (CA) and Jeremy Kamal (US)
- Honorary Mention winner Rachel Maclean (GB)
Language: EN