Chatbots in Art & Culture (Case Studies)

Notes:

Increasingly, there are two sides to this story. Not only are chatbots and AI represented in art, but AI (more than chatbots) is now being used in the context of computational creativity to create art, music, writing, etc. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques are being increasingly used in the field of computational creativity, which involves using computers and algorithms to generate creative works such as art, music, writing, and more.

One of the main advantages of using AI and machine learning for creative tasks is the ability to scale and automate the creative process. AI algorithms can analyze large amounts of data and generate multiple options for creative works, which can be useful for tasks such as generating artwork or music in a specific style or generating content for social media platforms.

AI and machine learning algorithms can also be trained on large datasets of existing creative works, such as paintings or music, to learn the characteristics and patterns of these works and use that knowledge to generate new, original content.

While AI and machine learning can be useful tools for generating creative works, it is important to recognize that they are not a replacement for human creativity. Many experts believe that the best results are achieved when AI is used in conjunction with human creativity, rather than trying to replace it.

Boten Anna: Basshunter, also known as Jonas Erik Altberg, is a Swedish eurodance musician who released a song called “Boten Anna” in 2006. The song, which is about a female IRC user mistaken for an IRC bot, became a hit in Scandinavia and elsewhere in Europe. It appears on Basshunter’s first studio album, LOL, and was also popular at The Gathering demo party in 2006. There have been several remixes and instrumental versions of the song released, and it has been covered and spoofed by other artists. “Boten Anna” is known for its catchy, upbeat melody and its lyrics, which were written in Swedish.
Hello Hi There: Annie Dorsen is a theater director and artist who works in various fields including film, dance, and digital performance. In 2010, Dorsen premiered a performance called “Hello Hi There,” which featured two custom chatbots having a conversation. The piece has been described as highlighting the artificial nature of online communication and exploring the limitations of language and intelligence. Dorsen has also worked on other projects, including a Broadway musical called “Passing Strange,” and has been recognized with a MacArthur “Genius” grant fellowship.
Prosthetic Head project is a 3D avatar head created by the artist Stelarc. It has real-time lip syncing, speech synthesis, and facial expressions, and can be controlled through a vision or sensor system. The head is a conversational agent that speaks to the person who interacts with it. Stelarc is also working on constructing an extra ear on his arm. The PROSTHETIC HEAD was presented at the InterAccess Gallery in Toronto, Canada in 2003, and has been featured in several exhibitions since then. It is known for its exploration of the limitations and possibilities of artificial intelligence and interactive interfaces.
Stype Typewriter is a modified typewriter that can be used to send messages online through Skype or other chat programs. It was created by Daniel Huhndt, who used an Arduino Mega and a Mac mini to connect the typewriter to the internet. The Stype Typewriter can be used for two-way text chats on Skype, and it has been featured in several technology blogs and websites. It is described as an attempt to bring a “communication retiree” into the digital age. There are references to using the Stype Typewriter for communication with people in different locations, including England and California.

Resources:

Wikipedia:

AIVA (Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist)
Computational creativity
List of fictional robots and androids
R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots)

References: