A paradoxical disposition
The 2022 documentary ‘The Andy Warhol Diaries’ shed light on Andy Warhol’s multifaceted persona as an artist, thinker, and cultural icon. His famous quote, “I want to be a machine,” encapsulates his enigmatic nature and constant quest for innovation. Andy’s legacy as a visionary in social, political, and technological realms continues to inspire us today.
The film delved into the personal musings of Andy, meticulously documented by his assistant, Pat Hackett. His evolution from the world of advertising to groundbreaking art and media revolutionized the creative landscape. In today’s era dominated by pop culture and technology, one can only imagine how Andy would have embraced these advancements.
Rather than seeking to replace humanity, Andy’s hypothetical interaction with artificial intelligence would likely focus on harnessing its potential to further his artistic endeavors. This symbiotic relationship between human creativity and technological innovation holds the key to a harmonious future. As society progresses towards embracing AI, new possibilities for collaboration and exploration emerge.
In the book ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’ by Robert M. Pirsig, the author discusses his friends who are perceived as anti-technology due to their resistance to change. However, upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that their resistance stems from laziness rather than a genuine aversion to technology. They simply want technology to function as promised without any need for maintenance or repair. This attitude results in neglect of basic responsibilities, such as fixing a leaking faucet, as they seek to escape the overwhelming presence of technology in their lives. Their reluctance is not towards technology itself, but rather towards the accountability that comes with it. Avoiding responsibility for technology can lead to negligence and complacency, ultimately rendering humans obsolete in the face of advancing technology. Embracing technology without fear allows us to harness its potential for positive impact, rather than being replaced by it.
In an era where AI companies are justifiably criticized by artists for “stealing” their work to train AI systems that produce derivative copies of their art without remuneration, Chung’s work explores not only the creative augmentations that AI can give to the artist, but also — paradoxically — the fundamental humanity of art as a discipline. “Traditional forms of creativity must shape, but not be replaced by, technological development,” Chung said in their acceptance speech. “We’ve observed the damage to our planet done by unchecked technological growth — the damage to our creative industries, too. We need now, more than ever, approaches that foreground hybrid creative innovation that help shape the development of the technology that shapes us, while stewarding what came before.” — From the intriguing article below, shared with me by my friend Heather Crank
