Assignment: Film: Tim's Vermeer

Assigned: Thursday, January 9

Due: Thursday, January 16 @ class start 

Assignment Description:

In the documentary film, Tim's Vermeer, Inventor Tim Jenison conducts experiments to discover how 17th-century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer achieved such photographic realism in his paintings.
Watch this film (either via Netflix or via the Link below) and prepare to discuss it next class by selecting 2-3 of the "primer" questions below and writing some notes on your thoughts.

Assignment Requirements:

1.) Watch Tim's Vermeer (Available on Netflix, or for free, here)

2.) Select two to three (2-3) of the "primer" questions (below) 

3.) During or following watching the film, write notes on your selected questions (in preparation for a brief discussion next week).

Primer Questions:

Observation and Hypotheses:

• How does Tim Jenison's approach to understanding Vermeer reflect a scientific or technological mindset?

• What does this tell us about the relationship between art and analytical thinking?

Tools and Creativity:

• Tim argues that Vermeer might have used technology to create his art. Does this change your perception of Vermeer’s genius? Why or why not?

• How do tools and technologies, like the optical devices Tim uses, influence the creative process?

Art and Authenticity:

• Do you think a work of art is less "authentic" if it relies heavily on technology for its creation? Why or why not?

• How do you define "creativity" in the context of Tim's reconstruction of The Music Lesson?

Ethical and Historical Perspectives:

• If Vermeer did use technology, does that diminish his achievements, or does it highlight his ingenuity?

• How do historical advancements in technology, such as the camera obscura, parallel modern advancements like AI in art-making?

Process vs. Outcome:

• Tim spends years building his tools and meticulously recreating Vermeer’s work. Do you think the process he goes through is as significant as the outcome? Why or why not?

AI Connection:

• Based on Tim's experiment, how do you see parallels between Vermeer’s potential use of technology and the use of AI in contemporary art?

• Can we consider AI a "tool" similar to the mirror-and-lens system Tim reconstructs, or does AI represent something fundamentally different?

Assignment: Proposal: Milestone Project One (slide presentation)

Assigned: Thursday, January 9

PROPOSAL Due: Thursday, January 16 @ class start
PROJECT Due: Thursday, February 27 @ class start

Project Description:

Milestone Project One: A Generative Artwork

Create an "algorithm" (instructions) or generative tool (an object and/or a process) for generating

art, and invite a third party to make art with it. Document this interaction via photo, video and/or audio. This project can be done without involving computers or digital technology at all, i.e. Sol Lewitt and the Conceptualist framework.

Assignment Description:

Create a slideshow (of 7 to 10 slides) to present a proposal for Milestone Project One.  This presentation should include original images, sketches, diagrams, mockups and/or video clips to help visually communicate your ideas.  We will share our presentations in class next week.

Assignment Requirements:

1.) Create a Powerpoint or Google Docs Slide presentation

2.) Populate said presentation with 7 to 10 slides

3.) Each slide should help visually communicate your concept for Milestone Project One

4.) Have your presentation on hand by the beginning of next week's class. We will each present our slides and discuss our ideas in a roundtable discussion.

Assignment: Podcst: Artificial: The OpenAI Story

Assigned: Thursday, January 23

Due: Thursday, January 30 @ class start

Assignment Description:
In Artificial: The OpenAI Story, a podcast series produced by The Journal., listeners explore the history and evolution of OpenAI, from its idealistic beginnings to its current role as a leading AI company. This series dives into key moments such as the development of ChatGPT and OpenAI’s internal challenges, including leadership conflicts and the pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Listen to the podcast episodes (linked below) and prepare to discuss them in the next class by selecting 2-3 of the "primer" questions and writing some notes on your thoughts.

Assignment Requirements:

1. Listen to Artificial: The OpenAI Story (Available via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other podcast platforms).

   • Spotify Link

   • Apple Podcasts Link

2. Select two to three (2-3) of the "primer" questions (below).

3. During or following your listening, write notes on your selected questions (in preparation for a brief discussion next week).
   
   

Primer Questions:

Origins and Vision:

• OpenAI started as a nonprofit with a vision to benefit humanity. How did this initial goal influence the company's early decisions? (Lu and Jaemin) 

• What does the evolution from nonprofit to a for-profit model reveal about the challenges of funding and advancing AI research? (Viet and Alex): 

Leadership and Conflict:

• The podcast highlights leadership struggles, such as Sam Altman's brief ousting. What does this incident tell you about the complexities of running an AI company?

• How do leadership dynamics affect the vision and execution of large-scale technological projects? (Viet and Alex): 

Technology and Society:

• OpenAI developed ChatGPT, which became a global phenomenon. How has this tool impacted how society views AI? (Aline and Daniela) 

• How should companies like OpenAI balance technological advancement with ethical responsibility? (Lu and Jaemin) 

Ethics and Power:

• OpenAI aims to create artificial general intelligence (AGI) but acknowledges its risks. How should organizations mitigate potential misuse of advanced AI systems?

• What parallels can you draw between OpenAI’s goals and the ethical dilemmas of other groundbreaking technologies throughout history? (Aline and Daniela) 

AI Connection:

• The podcast explores OpenAI’s belief that AGI could fundamentally reshape humanity’s future. Do you think AGI is a realistic goal? Why or why not?

• How does OpenAI’s story reflect broader themes in the history of emergent technologies, such as those highlighted in Tim’s Vermeer?

Assignment: Proposal: Milestone Project TWO (slide presentation)

Assigned: Thursday, February 27

PROPOSAL Due: Thursday, March 13 @ class start
PROJECT Due: Thursday, April 3 @ class start

Project Description:

Milestone Project Two: An AI-Driven Artwork

Students will employ any or all of the AI concepts, processes and/or tools we explored this semester to create, disrupt, or inform an original work of art. This may be a celebration of, or a critique of AI-based practices... or a combination thereof!

Assignment Description:

Create a slideshow (of 7 to 10 slides) to present a proposal for Milestone Project Two.  This presentation should include original images, sketches, diagrams, mockups and/or video clips to help visually communicate your ideas.  We will share our presentations in class on March 13.

Assignment Requirements:

1.) Create a Powerpoint or Google Docs Slide presentation

2.) Populate said presentation with 7 to 10 slides

3.) Each slide should help visually communicate your concept for Milestone Project One

4.) Have your presentation on hand by the beginning of class on the presentation due date. We will each present our slides and discuss our ideas in a roundtable discussion.

Assignment: 2001: An AUArts Odessy

Assigned: Thursday, March 6

Due: Thursday, March 13 @ class start 

Assignment Resources:

Sign up for RUNWAY sessions here:

>>>DOODLE SCHEDULE<<<

***Please select only 2 time slots per student

***Please only select time slots that are empty

Link to runway here:

>>>https://runwayml.com/<<<

See our MS TEAMS Chat for login info.

Assignment Resources:

Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the most influential films about artificial intelligence, creativity, and human evolution. The film raises deep questions about the role of AI, the boundaries between human and machine intelligence, and the ways technology shapes our future.

For this assignment, you will use the AI image/video generation platform Runway to create a short video (or a series of AI-generated images) that in some way responds to one or more of the primer questions below. These videos will be compiled into a collaborative class film.

Assignment Requirements:

1. Select two to three (2-3) of the "primer" questions (below) to guide your creative response.

2. Use Runway to generate a short video or AI-generated images (16:9 aspect ratio).

3. Your video should in some way respond to the ideas explored in 2001 and its connection to AI, creativity, and technology.

4. Sign up for Runway time via the Doodle poll: here. (One student can use the account at a time.)

5. Bring your final clip with you to next class. Clips will be edited together into a collaborative class film.
   
   

Primer Questions:

AI and Consciousness

• HAL 9000 is one of the most famous fictional AI systems. What makes HAL feel “alive,” and at what point does an AI system cross the threshold into being seen as intelligent or even conscious?

• Compare HAL to modern AI like ChatGPT—what aspects of HAL seem realistic, and what still feels like science fiction?

• If HAL had artistic abilities, would its creations be considered "authentic" art? Why or why not?

Technology and Human Evolution

• 2001 explores the idea that tools shape human evolution. How does this theme connect to the discussions in Tim’s Vermeer about technology aiding creativity?

• The monolith in 2001 represents an unknown force guiding human progress. Can AI be seen as a modern monolith—shaping but also controlling human advancement?

• How does AI, like the systems described in Artificial: The OpenAI Story, reflect the same ambitions and fears portrayed in 2001?

Control and Autonomy

• HAL follows programmed objectives but ultimately makes decisions beyond human control. How does this relate to current debates over AI alignment and control in the real world?

• OpenAI and other organizations are working on AI safety—do you think AI can ever be truly “safe,” or will it always present a risk, as seen in 2001?

• If AI were to make decisions that conflict with human desires, should AI have autonomy, or should humans always retain control?

Creativity and the Machine

• In Tim’s Vermeer, a machine-assisted process is used to create a masterpiece. If an AI-generated film or painting is indistinguishable from a human-made one, does it matter who (or what) made it?

• AI video generation tools like Runway can create stunning visuals with little human input. How does this change the role of the artist?

• Could HAL create a film? If it did, would it reflect human creativity, or something else entirely?