We looked at the connection between my AI supported photography work and the concept of Cosmotechnics as coined by philosopher Yuk Hui. Here are some preliminary points that we were able to find:
ChatGPT output:
Witold Riedel’s AI photography exemplifies the concept of cosmotechnics by integrating personal, cultural, and emotional elements into technological processes, thereby aligning technology with specific cosmological and ethical frameworks.
1. Personal and Cultural Integration: Riedel utilises over a decade’s worth of his own photographs as raw material, feeding thousands of these images into AI systems to generate new compositions. This approach ensures that the AI’s output is deeply rooted in his personal experiences and cultural context, reflecting a cosmotechnical perspective where technology is not universal but culturally, personally situated.
2. Emphasis on Emotion and Subjectivity: By focusing on the emotions he experienced when capturing the original photographs, Riedel directs the AI to prioritise subjective, human elements over mere representational accuracy. This method aligns with cosmotechnics by embedding human values and emotional depth into technological outputs, challenging the notion of technology as an objective, detached force.
3. Collaboration Between Human and Machine: Riedel views his use of AI as a collaborative process, extending the inherent partnership between photographer and camera. He selects AI-generated images that resonate with his remembered emotions, emphasising human agency in technological creation. This collaborative approach reflects cosmotechnics by harmonising human creativity with technological capabilities within a specific cultural framework.
4. Avoidance of Generic AI Outputs: By training AI models exclusively on his own photographs, Riedel ensures that the generated images are unique and personal, avoiding the generic quality often associated with AI art. This practice underscores the cosmotechnical principle that technology should reflect diverse cultural and individual expressions rather than conforming to a homogenised standard.
5. Exploration of Origins and Interconnectedness: Riedel’s exhibition “Ursprünge” (Origins) touches the interconnectedness of all things, using AI to explore the fundamental aspects of his photographic subjects. This exploration aligns with cosmotechnics by considering how technology can be used to deepen our understanding of the cosmos and our place within it, reflecting specific cultural and philosophical perspectives.
In summary, Witold Riedel’s AI photography embodies cosmotechnics by embedding personal and cultural dimensions into technological processes, fostering a harmonious relationship between human creativity and machine capabilities that reflects specific cosmological and ethical values.
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