Lectures & Talks

Expanded Animation 2021: Tectonic Shift
Ars Electronica (AT), Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences Hagenberg Campus (AT)
The 9th edition of the Expanded Animation symposium series will once again focus on current and future trends at the intersection of animation, art and technology during the Ars Electronica media art festival (September 8-12). On the first two days, international artists, researchers and developers will discuss current processes of change in the expanded field of animation under the motto Tectonic Shift. The central question is: What fundamental changes in conception, production and reception are discernible, and how does the Covid19 pandemic fit into this context?

AI x Music - The Question of Autonomy and Human Intention in Art & AI (Episode I)
Isabella Salas (MX/QC), Maya Indira Ganesh (IN/DE/UK), Yuri Suzuki (JP/UK), Ali Nikrang (AT)
In recent years, new AI technologies have increasingly been incorporated into fascinating artistic projects. The ability of AI to explore new, previously unknown perspectives of data certainly seems to enable new areas of artistic creation. But it also raises questions about possible forms of collaboration between AI and human artists. Intention plays a great role in the creative process. But how can artistic intention be communicated with an AI system? How does the degree of autonomy of an AI system affect human-AI collaboration? Are less autonomous AI systems better suited for artistic tasks because they give humans more freedom?

AI x Digital Humanism
$teven Ra$pa (US), Agnieszka Wykowska (IT), Rashin Fahandej (US), Agnieszka Pilat (US), Jillian York (US) , Martin Rauchbauer (AT)
As the driving factor of societal change, digitalization needs to be negotiated. However, in order for the “real work” to begin, a universal commitment to putting the social dimension at the core of technological development and digitalization is a key factor. Under the umbrella of Digital Humanism panelists come together to discuss how – through combining critical artistic engagement and collaboration across scientific disciplines – digital technologies can be shaped to serve as a means of strengthening and disseminating humanistic and social values.

AI x Feudalism: Digital serfdom in the world of Big Data, between property rights, empowerment, and content control
Sophie Zhang (US), Renata Ávila (GT), Frederike Kaltheuner (DE), Evgeny Morozov (BY/US)
From redemption and liberation to restriction, if not imprisonment, the same data sets can mean very different things to different people. Generally speaking: Data is power. But whose power are we talking about?

AI x Media Literacy: A Communication Problem?
Kyriaki Goni (GR), Meredith Broussard (US), Martina Mara (AT), Kanta Dihal (NL), Katrin-Cécile Ziegler (DE)
Artificial intelligence is a hot topic in the media. General interest and awareness regarding artificial intelligence (AI) has increased strongly. Therefore, media coverage of AI has become more and more prominent. But what image of AI is transmitted to the public through the media? What aspects do media focus on, what are the images transmitted? What are the possible effects on social perception of AI?

AI x Music: The Question of Autonomy and Human Intention in Art & AI (Episode II)
Davide Quayola (IT), Paola Torres Núñez del Prado (PE), Leslie Garcia (MX), Ali Nikrang (AT)
During two panels designed by Ars Electronica in collaboration with Mutek Montréal, a group of established panelists with diverse backgrounds will debate the question of autonomy and human intention in AI-related art.

AI x Civil Society: How AI infrastructures can advance the public good
Caroline Sinders (US), Kilian Kleinschmidt (DE), Glacier Kwong (HK), Simon Weckert (DE), Julia Kloiber (AT)
A panel dealing with political, societal and cultural changes and challenges brought on by artificial intelligence.

AI Lab Conference Day
The AI Lab conference gives a platform to concepts, projects and individual actors who explores scientific and technological aspects of AI, as well at the impact the development and deployment of artificial intelligence has on art, culture and society as a whole.

STARTS Day
The Science+Technology+Arts = STARTS Initiative is a program of the European Commission that encourages synergies between the arts and technology that support the innovation industry and society. STARTS promotes the inclusion of artists in research and innovation activities throughout Europe.

Keynote: Amy Whitaker (US)
Amy Whitaker (US)
Amy Whitaker studies the frictions between art and business and proposes new structures to support economic sustainability for artists. Stemming from Amy's longstanding engagement in the social practice of teaching business to artists, this research has contributed new methods of art market analysis that center artists and archival materials.