Bio/Bot
We know that we need to start listening to nature. But communication with the rest of the ecosystem has proven itself difficult. Artist Anne Hofstra has build an Artificial Language Model to see what happens when we try to let AI speak for nature. How does that work? What does it look like?
Meet Bio/Bot: Bio/Bot is not designed to serve humanity—it is designed to serve the planet. Most AIs are created to respond to human requests. But what happens when we teach an AI to not prioritise humans? Instead of responding to prompts from people, Bio/Bot gives us prompts. It takes into account a massive pool of ecological data—from climate change trends to biodiversity statistics—to guide our actions, not for our own benefit, but for the benefit of the ecosystem.... Wednesday February 12th Anne will present the first version of the Bio/Bot to the world. In a theatrical lecture, Anne will guide you through her process, and talk about the hopes, dreams, possibilities and problems of the bio/bot.Can AI Become the Voice of Nature? Human history is one of extraction, exploitation, and dominance: we don’t seem to be able to listen to nature’s wants and needs. And yet, we are tasked with listening—not just with our ears, but with our hearts, with our minds, and with all the tools at our disposal. AI is a tool. Could it help amplify this listening?
AI, unlike humans, does not have desires or interests shaped by biological needs or cultural histories. It is not beholden to the same biases that influence human thinking. AI has the potential to process and analyze vast amounts of ecological data—data that humans alone might struggle to interpret. But. It is also human made and shaped by the data it’s fed and the biases inherent in the systems we design. Can we teach an AI to not prioritize human needs? Can we train it to challenge the very concept of human stewardship of the Earth, to resist the ingrained biases that view humans as the measure of all things? How do we program an AI to not uphold human legal structures or frameworks when those are so deeply embedded in every aspect of our societies?
The first AI to not prioritise humans
Bio/Bot doesn’t follow the traditional model of AI—it doesn’t serve humanity. Instead, it serves the planet. By learning not to prioritise human needs, Bio/Bot will give you tasks that directly contribute to the restoration of the natural world, even if they don’t provide immediate, human-centered rewards. Bio/Bot asks you to step outside of anthropocentric thinking and embrace a new ecocentric lifestyle.
Welcome to a new era. Welcome to Bio/Bot.
Anne Hofstra during her research for the Bio/Bot Project - Copyright & Credits: Joost de Haas
Anne Hofstra is an artistic researcher. Currently, she is particularly interested in how we as humans can learn to make not only humans, but the entire ecosystem the center of our thinking. She has previously made theater performances and radio plays like KIP, a performance for chickens, that played at Mediamatic.
Bio/Bot is her research project that was conducted at Mediamatic once a week from October to January.
Information Exhibition Un-Opening & Theatrical LectureWednesday 12th of February
18:30 - 20:00
Free entry
Reserve your free ticket now!
Sluisdeurenloods, Mediamatic
Dijksgracht 6 Amsterdam
Credits:
Concept & excecution: Anne Hofstra
Eindregie performance: Anne-Maike Mertens
Audiovisual advisory: Naomi van Dijck
Webapp builder: Anoesj Sadraee
Animation & graphic design: Joost de Haas
Coproduction: Mediamatic
