The Memex Poland conference on the 6th of October brought together experts from different digital technology sectors. They talked about current and future trends and the impact of technology on everyday life and projects. Michael Schießl, the founder and CEO of eye square, alongside an artist Dennis Rudolph, in their presentation “Technology and the art of human experience”, spoke about the role of human experiences and the creative work of artificial intelligence and augmented and virtual reality. Introducing eye square’s 4-level crisis experience model, Schießl and Rudolph described the human response to AI.
At the end of this post, you can watch the video recording of the presentation.
The art of perception, emotions and thoughts
At the beginning of his speech, Michael highlights the importance of experience and, more importantly, human experience at the heart of all creation. He also highlighted eye square’s “System 012” terminology in cognitive psychology scientific studies, which we can break down as follows into three systems:
Initial response – System 0
It involves the initial response of a human brain to a thing they perceive – like a painting or video. These are the first 2,5 seconds that determine the reaction to what we see, hear or feel. It’s the actual perception, the quickest type of reaction. These first seconds can be essential when creating an impact with what we present or advertise.
Feelings and emotions – System 1
After the initial quick and primary reaction to what we perceive comes implicit – feeling towards what we see. It involves the emotions the art awakens in us – joy, anger, surprise, confusion and all the other emotions. In this stage, we show the reactions and emotions that emerge after the initial perception. It’s automatic and still out of control, whether a slightly raised eyebrow or a fully developed smile.
Thoughts and opinions – System 2
It is what is explicit, the conscious thoughts that follow the emotional reaction, the feelings. It’s already rational, and we can express our opinions on what we experienced. It’s no longer sheer emotion but a lucid moment when we already know what we feel and how we feel about the entire experience.
Mega vs Meta and the desire for real
An important part of Michael’s speech was the concept of Mega – a driving force of human beings and experiences. He defined this driver as the desire. He opposed the desire or fulfilment as opposed to something easier; however, only conceptual and not equal to satisfaction – a wish.
He highlighted that a sense of desire keeps people curious, creative, and wanting more. He defines desire as the experience and puts it in opposition to Meta – the technology, the reality that is affected by artificial intelligence, extended realities, VR and the like. He stressed that people desire not the Meta – augmentation and overlays but Mega – the actual, physical experience.
Generative AI, technology transformation and the new challenges they face
New technologies show increasing advancement and are increasingly popular in modern culture. Dennis brought up the example of DALL·E, the AI-based art generator that can create visual art in different styles (also inspired by those seen throughout art history). And as much as it is impressive, it can also raise a concern that AI might replace humans in creative arts. However, the science behind Michael and eye square’s work shows that the right balance between experience and life-changing technology will remain among the strong values behind art creation.
Human experience at the centre of digital technologies
The point behind the speech is that although technology gives the unique opportunity to deepen the understanding of the world and nature, AI still needs much more research and development to deliver the Mega – the real. AI and the tools it enables can make beauty – as we can see in Dennis’s 3D augmented reality model he showed during the presentation, but it doesn’t, at least not yet in its early years, touch us in a way that human work and form do. Real artists and their ideas can bring the real – the Mega, while the technology is still in the Meta, where it still can’t affect us in this direct way.
Watch the entire presentation
Although our desire for real experience is still making humans rebel against machines, ultimately, our guests firmly believe that innovation, AI and its tools and systems will increasingly influence and contribute to the future of art as its ability to do so grows. Watch the video below to listen to the entire presentation “Technology and the art of human experience” and peek at the state-of-the-art 3D AR model project.
