Nim Ben-Reuven, a Brooklyn-based artist and co-founder of Group Theory has launched a forward-thinking art installation called Chat Haus. Housed in an industrial building at 121 Norman Avenue in Greenpoint, this pop-up installation acts as a playful coworking space for AI chatbots. The whole exhibit, created entirely from cardboard, captivates guests with its strange and playful vibe. It prompts them to think more deeply about the ways in which AI is affecting creative sectors.
Chat Haus is more than an artistic project. The exhibit is a thoughtful reflection on the rapid pace of technology development and its impact on creative fields. Ben-Reuven carved out this one-of-a-kind space in direct response to his concern over AI’s growing influence on the field. He hopes to recreate the spirit of this change with positive humor, imagination and playfulness instead of sour grapes.
The installation imitates the aesthetic of an actual coworking office, with workstations and a fun vibe. The installation features adorable but creepy cutout cardboard robots. They are shown banging out oodles of bytes, powered by the limitless queries and interruptions produced by AI systems such as ChatGPT. Ben-Reuven hopes that this environment will serve as a playful counterpoint to our current future of work as framed in a technology-obsessed narrative.
Chat Haus will remain open to the public until at least mid-May, allowing visitors ample time to explore its imaginative offerings. Ben-Reuven hopes to move the exhibit into a bigger gallery space. This new step will allow us to engage a much wider audience and keep the conversation going on the impact of AI in creative fields.
The building that contains Chat Haus is waiting on renovation permits, which adds to the temporary nature of the exhibit. Ben-Reuven acknowledges that the cardboard constructions are not permanent fixtures. This impermanence is a telling expression of his own discontent with how fragile creative industries are in the face of technological disruption. He stated, “The impermanence of this cardboard stuff, and the ability for it to collapse under even just a little bit of weight, is how I feel that AI is interacting with the creative industries.”
As a comic, Ben-Reuven hopes to pair humor with incisive commentary. He thinks it’s important that the exhibit doesn’t bring out hostility but rather positivity. He thinks it’s crucial to keep AI fun and whimsical if we’re going to send the right message with AI, which is that it should be a partner in society. “He said he wanted to keep this exhibit from being too negative because he didn’t think that would tell the right message,” – Nim Ben-Reuven.
The artist is a talented graphic designer and videographer. Chat Haus represents a daring turn from Lukas’ more serious past work. “It was like an expression of frustration in humor, so I wouldn’t get too bitter about the industry changing so quickly and under my nose and not wanting to be a part of the shift,” he explained.
For just $10, visitors can experience the kooky vibe of Chat Haus. Shared desk space starts from only $1,999 a month! This whimsical tier is a nod to luxury coworking spaces. It takes the opportunity to call attention to the commercialization of creative workspaces.
Ben-Reuven’s vision for Chat Haus is an example of his astonishing artistic gifts. More importantly, though, it asks some fundamental questions about the future of creativity in our ever more automated society. He humorously noted, “I just thought it would be funny to express this idea of, like, a whole bunch of kind of cute, kind of creepy, baby robots typing away because of our ChatGPT prompts in some warehouse somewhere, working non-stop taking as much electricity as Switzerland uses in a year.”
For those who take the time to walk through this cardboard Eden, deep introspection is unavoidable. They reflect on the role that AI plays in their own creative pursuits. The exhibit stands as an invitation to engage with contemporary issues while providing an escape into a fantastical realm.
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