JKU Rector Meinhard Lukas states, "ChatGPT and other related systems are becoming increasingly important as sources of information, and their influence is growing rapidly, especially the way they are influencing public opinion. They will undoubtedly transform democracy. In Europe, we still have the power to influence the direction of these development ourselves! The 2023 Ars Electronica Festival addresses this issue and, together with MIT, we aim to literally make it more tangible at the festival."

At the crossroads of science and art, "Next Truth Prediction" will take a look at large-scale language models, such as ChatGPT & Co., and explore the way they impact public information and, ultimately, democracy.

The JKU has invited the internationally renowned Center of Constructive Communication (CCC) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to take part in this year's festival for the first time. An exhibition and two workshops will provide insight into the CCC's work and its extensive expertise in the field of current social and mass media ecosystems.

In addition, Cortico, an MIT CCC spin-off, will showcase its Local Voices Network (LVN) platform. By self-definition, LVN is a unique system for "human listening and machine learning", combining ancient techniques of human dialogue and immersive listening with the analytical power of modern AI.

The Circus of Knowledge will take the stage for the first time at this year's Ars Electronica Festival and will feature top-notch, international partners. The Circus of Knowledge and Puppetficial Intelligence take on the topic of generative AI and language models as part of an omnipresent, anarchic and wicked puppet show (for adults) in an in-house production of "AI - A Punch Intervenes" (by and featuring puppeteer Andreas Pfaffenberger, premiering on September 6 at 1:30 PM at the JKU Square).
 

In addition, the Circus of Knowledge has invited the award-winning German theater collective Rimini Protokoll (winners of the European Theater Prize) to address the issue of AI as part of its highly acclaimed production, "Uncanny Valley": Can a robot convincingly portray a human on stage? Performances will take place at the Ars Electronica Center and at the Futurelab. See: https://www.rimini-protokoll.de/website/en/project/unheimliches-tal-uncanny-valley, opens an external URL in a new window to learn more.

During the festival, the Circus of Knowledge will also screen the only computer-animated film by William Kentridge made during the 1990s. Initially created for MoMA NY, this film has rarely been seen anywhere in the world and will be contextualized together with a very recent AI-generated piece by Turkish media artist Refik Anadol. Festival visitors will also have the opportunity to speak with William Kentridge via video transmission from Manhattan about the act of creation in art.

Time's Up's "AIFutures" workshops, organized at the invitation of the Circus, should also not go unmentioned. These workshops invite the festival visitors to work together to develop future scenarios associated with Artificial Intelligence and Natural Intelligence, and in line with the title of the festival "Who Owns the Truth?

The JKU has a limited number of tickets to "Uncanny Valley" available for JKU employees. If you are interested, please contact us by sending an e-mail to: zirkus@jku.at.

Meinhard Lukas remarked: "When it comes to developing so-called artificial intelligence, the JKU is a hub and there is a good reason why. Only by continuously conducting research on AI from all professional perspectives in Austria and Europe will we be able to contribute to shaping the direction of AI. Otherwise, we are merely passengers without the ability to exert any kind of influence whatsoever on whether or not our European values will survive this technological revolution. This is why the the JKU, together with its outstanding researchers and scholars, is playing a powerful role in the transformation process."