​As part of Esoteric AI’s exploration of new, critical but productive ways of engaging and understanding AI, practically and conceptually, we turn to the design and research practice of David Benqué, who will discuss and show to us the connections among divination, chicanery, prediction, data, and algorithms with our Esoteric AI research lead Natalia Stanusch.

​​ABOUT THE SESSION

​​What connects stars, almanacs, diagrams, and YouTube recommendation algorithms? In the upcoming conversation-as-investigation of Esoteric AI, we are joined by David Benqué, an acclaimed London-based researcher and designer, practitioner and thinker. David will illuminate our understanding on the above mentioned – and many more – questions which are central to our sense-making of Esoteric AI.  Just as the conceptual starting point for Esoteric AI is that it can act as a critical and subversive mode to offer yet another look into the algorithmic predictions, recommendations, and outputs, so is David’s approach to (critical) design as a way to not just criticise, but also understand, engage, and “reclaim” predictions from data-driven algorithmic systems.

​As a story as old as time goes, a map that perfectly captures a world would need to be the size of the world and cover it completey with its accuracy, becoming unusable. The seemingly objective – yet deeply ideological or positivistic – view that enough data could render all world phenomena predictable is at least an overblown statement, or even a dangerous fallacy. As David demonstrates across the rich body of his work, prediction is intrinsically tied to speculation, and mapping is a deeply transformative and powerful act. It is through his design practice that David demonstrates how algorithmic prediction and data collection are uncannily similar to foretelling objects like almanacs. What we know today as data science directly grew out of astronomy, astrology, and the divination practices like almanacs. David puts in practice how a design objects such as diagrams today can serve as a critical lens and conceptual frameworks in retracing those roots – or rather, digging them up and bringing them up to the surface. Yet diagrams, as design practice at large, is more than a tool like a lens or frame, but rather, as David will discuss, a critical practice of sense-making and “reclaiming” the ‘possible’ from the algorithms.

​Some of the question we shall tackle are as follows; how is reading into datasets and charting the vector space of proximities different from reading the stars alignment in zodiac predictions? How is our approach/understanding of these ‘predictions’ and logics behind them different? How can the “illegitimate” ways of knowing that encompass oracles, magic, and foretelling shade a new understanding of AI processes for both users and designers of AI systems?

​​ABOUT SLOW AI PROJECT

​​​In this project, we will interrogate and publish critical AI discourse in a format that makes sense to us and our practices, namely zines and creative technology installations. Inspired by the counter-movements of slow fashion and slow food, this project will investigate three emerging AI counter-narratives –Small AI 🐜, Ancestral AI 🐚, and Esoteric AI 🔮 – and explore what it might look like to incorporate them in our everyday practice.

​​​At project end we will publish an anthology – a hot compost pile of miro boards, zines, and art that we hope sparks new ways to think and talk about AI.

​​​Follow this page to stay up-to-date on Slow AI. Slow AI is made possible by Stimuleringsfonds <3

​​🔮 ESOTERIC AI w/ NATALIA

​​​Natalia Stanusch (she/her) is the research lead for the Esoteric AI stream. Natalia is a PhD candidate at ASCA, University of Amsterdam, a researcher at AI Forensics and a Research Lead for Esoteric AI at AIxDESIGN. Natalia is interested in studying digital media artifacts by way of critical theory. She works at a crossroad of critical data and algorithm studies, science and technology studies, digital visual culture, and art history.

​​🧚 GUEST: DAVID BENQUÉ

​​David Benqué is a designer and researcher living in Cork, Ireland. He holds a PhD from the Royal College of Art in London (2020) where his research focused on diagrams as a language to engage critically with algorithmic prediction. He continues this practice-led research independently as The Institute of Diagram Studies.

​​ABOUT AIxDESIGN

​​​AIxDESIGN (AIxD) is a global community of designers, researchers, creative technologists, and activists using AI in pursuit of creativity, justice and joy and living lab exploring participatory, slow, and more-than-corporate AI. Learn more at aixdesign.co.