Reflecting with Machines

School of Machines, Making & Make-Believe presents a 6-week class on critical and creative engagement w/machine learning using RunwayML.

About this event

How do we live at the intersection of the critical and the creative through artificial computing?

/ Six-week Live* Online class begins 22. September ends 27. October

/ Every Thursday, 8pm-10pm, EST (Note timezone!)

/ Small class of participants

/Tickets available through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflecting-with-machines-tickets-166161847559

Description

Machine learning advancements are now accessible for exploration, social and philosophical pontification. “Reflecting with Machines” offers a low-code/no-code opportunity to bring the digital humanities closer to artificial intelligence.

The class highlights how human progress and criticism can shape the conversation in the advancements of machine learning models as technology and society continue to intertwine.

We will highlight the evolution of neural computation and AI’s impact in multiple industries, from computer vision applications to machine learning as an artistic tool.

The creative application of RunwayML tools will help participants in understanding the influence of machine learning around us.

The course will discuss topics in image segmentation and image generation through artistic metaphors for people unfamiliar with code or machine learning for creative use.

Course Outline

Week 1 - Getting to Know each other

In this first week we will introduce each other and talk about our practices. We will consider how we could combine knowledge about our respective areas and speak from personal experience about how we process the new technologies that surround us every day. We will discuss the expectations of the class, the bibliography, and a glossary for those who do not come from a technical context.

Week 2 - History of Machine Learning

This week, we will explore the evolution of machine learning to deep learning, the types of algorithms in machine learning, and their industry application. By understanding the historical relationships in artificial intelligence, we will equip ourselves with a better intuition about the recent milestones and goals of the industry.

Week 3 - The implications of machine learning models through algorithms

In week three, we’ll focus through critical theoretical analysis on algorithms in our daily life and the socio-political environment we currently find ourselves in. The class will study different machine learning resources from research laboratories. We will transfer this theoretical exercise to practical hands-on training, learning about RunwayML software models for creative purposes.

Week 4 - Are there ethics in data collection?

In this fourth week, we consider our conception of data by analyzing how and where it can be extracted and towards what end. We will rethink how data extraction enables AI in surveillance technology, and through algorithms, how it monitors users on the internet.

Week 5 - Project Development

This week, we will learn to gather, curate, and process a dataset for image generation machine learning with StyleGAN2. Additionally, we'll share project ideas, progress, and receive constructive feedback. Projects can range from essay presentations, practical exercises in RunwayML, or conceptual endeavors with justification.

Week 6 - Presentation of Projects

In our final week we will continue with Ggroup exercises, discussion circles, and project presentations. Students will have the opportunity to present their projects and discuss them with the other participants’ feedback and constructive criticism. This class will end with consideration as to how to take these projects to the next stage, 2.0. We'll also see what other courses on machine learning can complement each project's journey.

Who is this class for?

Artists, sociologists, digital curators, creatives, and people interested in machine learning as a creative tool. No programming experience is required.

About 'Live' Classes

Classes are 'live' meaning that you can directly interact with the instructor as well as with the other participants from around the world. Classes will also be recorded for playback in case you are unable to attend for any reason. For specific questions, please email us and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

About fees

We realise we're living in uncertain times. During this time, we are offering a limited number of pay-what-you-can solidarity tickets for this online class. These are reserved for women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ who would otherwise be unable to attend. We are a small organisation with no outside funding and like many, we are also in survival mode and we ask you to consider this when making your donation.

Note: Due to the fact that we are receiving way more requests for Solidarity tickets than we can accommodate, we ask that if you have already taken three that you please purchase a regular ticket in order to make them available to other people. Also, please note that we may send a follow-up email asking you to confirm your eligibility for these tickets. We are trying to make our classes accessible to as many people as possible and greatly appreciate your understanding and support.

VAT

Please Note: For tax purposes, we need to include the 19% VAT on top of ticket price.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE EU AND HAVE A VAT NUMBER— IT IS VAT ZERO! WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO HAVE AND PROVIDE THIS VAT TAX NUMBER.

In order to utilise this feature at checkout, under Registration Type & Tax Receipt Information, select Business (which as a freelancer you technically are). Then enter in your USt.ID.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch: info[at]schoolofma.org

About the instructors

Moises Sanabria instagram.com/moisesdsanabria/

Interdisciplinary artist Moises Sanabria (Venezuela, 1990). Currently based in Miami, he is an interdisciplinary artist whose work extends the dialectics of machine philosophy along with trends in memetics and branding through the context of social media life. His work is both philosophical and political, bridging academic aesthetics with internet meme cultures. His practice is deeply intertwined with digital nowness, making use of live streaming, video, new media, machine learning and installation to further connect the advancement of science with art.

Fabiola Larios aiartonline.com/art-2020/fabiola-larios/

Interdisciplinary artist Fabiola Larios (Mexico 1986). Currently based in Miami, her work focuses on the anthropology of social networks, the narrative of internet culture (selfies, avatars) and surveillance capitalism. His practice is through performance, video-performance, video mapping and machine learning. She has been Paolo Cirio's assistant in the project (Attention Art). Selected to be part of the AI Art Gallery NeurIPS2020 (Neural Information Processing Systems) curated by Luba Elliot.