Together, artists and scientists reveal the hidden AI economy

The symposium ‘Digital Mirror, invisible labor’ highlights the forgotten human ‘clickworkers’ behind AI technology. During the symposium, which will take place at the House of Connections on 19 December, artists and scientists will give their take on the backside of artificial intelligence.

The symposium revolves around the invisible platform economy behind artificial intelligence, says Roosje Klap, director of Noorderlicht, a platform for photography and lens-based media. AI systems are trained and moderated by human labour in low-wage countries. These invisible ‘clickworkers’ are poorly paid, there is no regulation and the tasks are mind-numbingly simple. In turn, the technology is used in rich countries.

Exhibition

The symposium is part of Noorderlicht's Digital Mirror context programme, which takes a critical stance on AI, representation and its ethical implications. Digital Mirror runs synchronously with the exhibition Pixel Perceptions. During the exhibition in Noorderlicht's gallery and Akerk, 32 ‘lens-based’ artists will show how AI affects our perception.

According to Klap, photographers have always embraced technology. 'Think of shutter speed, darkrooms and digital photography. AI is the kind of technology that artists play with. It is an extension of the palette, creating an explosion of activity.' At the same time, there are those who argue that artificial intelligence is the end of the field, says Klap. ‘However, photography did not mean the end of painting either, despite the fear that it would.’

Impressive

The exhibition addresses the perception of reality, seeing and being seen by AI and the backside of technology. Although artists embrace the new technology, all 32 pieces in the exhibition contain critical undertones, says the director. They focus on the blurring boundaries of the truth, biases in data, fake news and the deplorable working conditions of ‘clickworkers’. Visitors can also marvel at the 24-metre-long visual manifesto on the relationship between technology and power by researcher Kate Crawford and artist Vladan Joler. Crawford received an honorary doctorate from the University of Groningen earlier this year.

According to Klap, the exhibition stirs up a lot of emotions among visitors. 'It's quite a lot for people, and some find it downright dystopian. Visitors take notably good time to see the exhibition, and leave full of questions.’ The director is very enthusiastic about the interactions between young and old. ‘I see young people telling their parents and grandparents how things work. As director, I quietly listen in on those conversations, and am very proud of our exhibition.'

Gig economy

The exhibition also features the work of artist Nicolas Gourault. He made a video installation about the daily reality of online microworkers from Kenya, Venezuela and the Philippines. Gourault is also one of the speakers at the symposium in House of Connections. Afterwards, UG researcher Seonok Lee will give a presentation on (digital) platform workers and the ‘gig economy’, as the online ‘ small job economy’ is called. Also, a panel discussion will take place.

Before experts address the hidden backside of artificial intelligence, there is a light-hearted kick-off to the symposium. Eight visitors will compete against each other during a ‘prompt battle’ organised by online collective The Hmm. The one who manages to write the most effective instruction (‘prompt’) for an AI wins the competition. Those interested can also visit the Pixel Perceptions exhibition beforehand with a guided tour at 2pm by Noorderlicht director Klap.

The symposium ‘Digital Mirror, invisible work’ will take place on 19 December from 15:00 to 17:30. Tickets are available on the Noorderlicht website. This symposium is organised by the Jantina Tammes School of Digital Society, Technology and AI, The Hmm and Noorderlicht. The Pixel Perceptions exhibition will be on view until 19 January 2025.