Transdisciplinary Workshop at the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz – Max-Planck-Institut, organised by Hana Gründler and Rafael Uriarte.

The workshop “The Art of AI: Narratives, Creativities, and Ethics” is a journey through the historical development of automata, robots, androids, and artificial intelligence (in the broad sense). Spanning mythology and ancient narratives, we will explore the origins and idealizations of automata and trace their evolution through the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period to our present time. On one hand we will offer critical reflections on artificial intelligence from antiquity to today in visual culture and literature, and examine how these cultural imaginaries have shaped expectations, fears, and understanding of AI over time. At the same time, we will also ask whether we need to question and revision our concepts of ‘creativity’ and reflect on the possibilities and limits of unexpected ‘deviation’ and ‘rupture’. Thus, the discussion will encompass an in-depth exploration of the current capabilities of creative machines, as well as their potential not to only reach but eventually also surpass human creativity.

On the other hand, we will delve into the pressing philosophical, ethical, and societal questions raised by these advancements. On a meta-theoretical level, our goal is to synthesize historical analysis, philosophical perspectives on art, aesthetics and ethics, and technical expertise. While maintaining a critical-historical eye towards these developments, we are also attuned to the productive horizons posed by automata, particularly in areas such as consciousness, language, ethics, and risks for society. Ultimately, we aim to better understand the implications of technological advancements and their profound ethical and societal effects in the changing landscape of AI, and in quotidian life.

Contributors are invited to present a short talk dealing with one of the above-mentioned thematic fields as well as the range of related questions and topics of about 20 min (followed by a discussion). Please send an abstract of max. 2000 characters and a short CV (summarised in a pdf) in English by e-mail to: gruendlerkhi.fi.it and rafael.uriartekhi.fi.it

We kindly request that the abstract be submitted by 4 March 2024.

Feedback on workshop participation as well as information on lodging and travel reimbursement will be provided by 15 March 2024.