The “Generation A=Algorithm” project draws attention to a generation that is currently still in its infancy and whose lives will be decisively determined by algorithmic systems. As part of the project, the Goethe-Institut has developed many different formats aimed at young adults across Europe (and beyond), from online discussion series, scholarships for visual artists and a residency program for humanoid robots to a hackathon that sought innovative technical solutions to positively counteract climate change.
In conversation with project manager Dr. Jeannette Neustadt. www.goethe.de/generationa
What does “Generation A=Algorithm” want to achieve?
The project aims to bring the discussion about artificial intelligence and algorithmic decision-making systems from experts to wider sections of society. In particular, those whose lives are and will be most affected by the technological developments of this period have so far received little attention, especially at the political level. As a cultural institute, it is important to us to conduct these discussions across national borders and across various disciplines. Special attention is paid, for example, to the integration of artistic perspectives, because art can act on the one hand as a seismograph of social developments based on technological change and on the other hand as a catalyst for the successful and socially responsible transformation of this new technology into products.
How do you structure your collaboration with the experts?
We work with a great many experts from different countries and different professional groups, so far just under 250 people. As part of the project, we founded a network called “European A (i) lliance”, which supports us in implementing the format ideas and developed relevant questions together with us at the start of the project. The topic of AI was still very new for our institution. We had worked little or not at all with the experts in this field before. That's why it's great that we can now draw on so many outstanding scientists, artists, technologists, educators and activists. They support us as speakers at events such as the big AI festival, which we held at the end of last year with the Hygiene Museum, or as a cooperation partner for smaller formats such as the “EU Digital Futures” discussion series. With the Weizenbaum Institute, we were able to conduct a survey of 3,000 young European adults on the topic of AI in 2021. With Feminist Internet, together with young adults from 16 European countries, we developed a future vision for life with AI at the end of last year.
What is AI changing? (What are the limits of AI?)
AI applications hold great potential for solving global problems facing our society. For example, AI can revolutionize the healthcare sector and help doctors treat people in a more targeted and better way. Despite the high energy consumption that the use of the technology entails, AI can effectively combat climate change, including by calculating efficient solutions for reducing emissions or by making personal resource consumption visible. In the future, AI will pass court rulings, drive cars and free people's everyday lives from many unpleasant, repetitive activities. With the extremely fast evaluation of extremely large data sets, machine learning can help people make correct and important decisions. But this is also where the weak point of the technology lies. After all, machine learning algorithms are only as good, fair and fair as the data with which they were trained. However, it has long since become apparent that this data is often distorting and discriminatory and that AI reinforces these tendencies even more. From implementing an algorithm to selecting a data set to evaluating the results, working with people who truly understand a problem is essential. Machine learning is an instrument. It can be used in the spirit of a liberal, democratic society or directed against it. As examples of the latter, I would just like to mention the dangers posed by autonomous weapon systems or from social media sorting algorithms, which undermine political opinion formation and play a large part in dividing society.
Where do you see areas of tension?
In addition to the areas of tension already mentioned, the undermining of democratic opinion-forming processes or the use of autonomous weapon systems, attention should also be drawn to the effect of AI on social and economic inequality in society. Any form of automation tends to undermine employment relationships in the middle income sector and widen the gap between highly skilled, often intellectual work and unskilled physical work. This also applies to AI, which, thanks to its enormous influence on the labor market, also promotes political instability and populist tendencies.
But AI is also tracing another divide, that between the countries of the Global South and the Global North. AI applications are usually developed and deployed in the Global North. Groups that have the appropriate resources, data sets and competencies can participate in innovations in particular. AI today is anything but inclusive. It often also excludes people with physical disabilities. One reason for this lies in the economic interests associated with the development of AI applications. The Global North in particular is investing primarily in technological solutions that generate the highest possible investment returns.
What benefits does AI offer us graphic designers?
In recent months, I've heard from many creative people that machine learning enables them to express themselves in completely new ways. In addition, AI can help with routine tasks in particular, optimize work processes and thus give graphic designers more time for creative processes. The role of designers is then more about selecting and completing the countless solutions offered by the algorithm. The AI virtually becomes a co-designer.
Does artificial intelligence enrich or endanger the future of designers and why?
As part of “Generation A=Algorithm”, we have repeatedly discussed the influence of AI on creative processes with artists. Can the machine really be creative? The unequivocal answer is: No. The machine does not act out of intent. It does not raise any social questions and problems. It does not create works, but rather calculates them — always on the basis of existing data. In the field of applied art, however, it can certainly produce convincing results. Thanks to AI, even amateurs are able to compose music, create logos or create websites. Creative AI also “trumps” its human colleagues in terms of work performance. The machine can match thousands of fonts, color palettes, and layout structures in seconds. She doesn't take a vacation and doesn't know a weekend. In this respect, it certainly endangers the future of designers. On the other hand, the development of more and more AI applications also means the need for ever better designed application tools. And this is exactly what designers are needed for. In addition, although the AI can make suggestions, it cannot make a selection. It should not be seen as a competition but as an instrument which is able to both enrich and facilitate one's own work.
What else would you like to tell readers?
The discussion of artificial intelligence has only just begun, including for the Goethe-Institut. The “key technology of the 21st century” and its effects on society must be adequately reflected and negotiated — by people from different professional groups and places of origin. Decisions should not be made by technologists, large tech companies and governments alone, but should be made and supported by the entire society. The involvement of young voices is particularly important to us in the “Generation A=Algorithm” project. Other AI projects at the Goethe-Institut focus on other voices that have not been heard enough to date. More information at: www.goethe.de/generationa as well as in the Goethe-Institut's Zeitgeister magazine.
The article was published in the column “Shaping the Future” in Grafikmagazin 02.22.
