AI Impact Alliance’s 2nd Symposium brings together international artists, curators, researchers, entrepreneurs and other experts to explore the tensions between generative AI's potential and the pressing need for digital sobriety. As generative AI transforms artistic creation, it also raises critical questions about its environmental impact and the economic choices it demands. Panelists will discuss the energy-intensive nature of AI, its implications for Indigenous language revival, for cultural diversity, and how we can collectively achieve balance in our use of Generative AI and the responsibility to our planet and future generations. We are currently accepting proposals to contribute to its second symposium which will focus on environmental and economic impacts of Generative AI in the arts.
Art-Laws’ 2nd Symposium, Generative AI, Art and Eco-Economics will be online, January 23rd from 9:30 to 5 p.m. Easter Time. *The exact times and schedule to be confirmed after we receive submissions.
The programming aims to provoke a constructive collision between old and new ways of creating art of all disciplines, and between outdated and revolutionary means of protecting artists and the value of true art in society. From emerging tech platforms pioneering fair remuneration models, to AI start-ups pushing for energy-efficient AI systems, our speakers will lead a critical discussion balancing techno-cultural innovation and sustainability. Some speakers maybe invited to contribute in AI Impact Alliance’s final report (exact format to be determined at a later time).
Current Program Overview:
The afternoon panel “Creative Tech & Indigenous AI: Paths Forward” will explore the intersection of data sovereignty, language revival, and civic engagement through the lens of Indigenous knowledge and Generative AI. Key topics to be discussed during that panel include Indigenous values, frameworks and protocols in the context of using generative in the arts and cultural sector. Sasha Stiles, Art Proctor, Michael and Caroline Running Wolf are confirmed speakers for that panel. It will be in English. We welcome submissions in French on related questions.
Also in the afternoon, panelists such Diane Drubay, a pioneering strategist and curator who has been reshaping the museum and arts sector globally, will discuss the digital sobriety and cultural innovation paradox in museums and the arts. The discussion titled “Entre algorithmes gourmands et impératifs de sobriété numérique : l’art comme boussole” will be in French.
Other invitations are or will soon be sent. Confirmations are pending.
To complete our programming, we welcome submissions at the forefront of the environmental, cultural and economic implications of Generative AI.
Here are some of the questions we aim to cover.
What are the energy costs and environmental impacts of generative AI in the arts and creative industries compared to traditional methods (e.g., film production’s astronomical carbon cost of onset productions)?
How can Generative AI platforms reduce the carbon footprint of the technologies they deploy? Or inversely, what is the role of artists and cultural institutions in mitigating the environmental implications of Generative AI?
What art-based inquiries are being made into the environmental impact of Generative AI and digital economies?
What benchmarks, such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, could guide responsible generative AI practices in the arts?
How can we empower artists in a market transformed by generative AI? Are new opportunities and markets emerging for creators, or are existing inequities being amplified? How does generative AI influence the economic value of contemporary art?
What new business models can generative AI platforms adopt to ensure fair compensation for artists? What is licensing, how does it work for artists and is that the only option?
How does the recent recognition of resale rights for artists in Canada intersect with generative AI and redistribution mechanisms?
How might generative AI transform the dynamics of cultural identity and expression, and what risks does it pose in terms of cultural appropriation? What are legal or economic solutions to those risks e.g. cultural data trusts?
Both AI, social sciences and humanities experts as well as artists are invited to submit. Decolonial and ecofeminist perspectives are welcome.
If you're unsure your proposal is on topic, please note the following: it’s best to submit as we organize many seminars, panels and conferences throughout the year and the period of this Call coincides with the Holidays therefore our replies may be slower than usual. If you're unsure whether you have the required level of expertise, we want you to know that we LOVE to support new voices getting into this field.
We look forward to starting 2025 together and reading your proposals!