This project explores the evolution of AI conceptualization, beginning with simple textual prompts such as, “a photorealistic pencil drawing of a hand grenade on a pristine white background.” From these prompts, an initial set of AI-generated images is created. A single image is then selected at random to serve as the seed for the next iteration. The AI regenerates this image, producing new variations in a process that repeats indefinitely, with each cycle drifting further from the original concept.
The AI’s conceptual shifts, often detached from human values or truths, transform perceptions and realities in ways that challenge ethical boundaries.
As the AI establishes new baselines with each generation, this gradual drift—known as model collapse—mirrors humanity’s increasing dependence on technology. We now rely on AI not just for problem-solving but for shaping how we see, feel, and understand the world. By outsourcing cognitive and emotional processes to machines, we introduce significant risks of misalignment, losing authentic connections to natural forms and genuine experiences. The AI’s conceptual shifts, often detached from human values or truths, transform perceptions and realities in ways that challenge ethical boundaries.
A compelling example within Emergent Forms occurs when an image of planet Earth begins morphing into a solar eclipse. Midway through this transformation, the visual momentarily attempts to form a human fetus—an image the AI is programmed to avoid. This fleeting yet poignant instance highlights the tension between technological autonomy and ethical safeguards, inviting deeper reflection on AI’s latent capabilities and the consequences of relying on it to navigate human existence.
To bring this project full circle, the AI-generated drawings are brought to life by my hand. I meticulously recreate selected AI images in pencil drawings, producing a limited-edition series. This process underscores the evolving dialogue between human craftsmanship and machine creativity, offering a tangible artifact of an otherwise digital exploration.
Example Prompt: “A photorealistic pencil drawing of a hand grenade on a white background.”
Algorithm Workflow:
- Generate four variations of the initial target.
- Select one variation at random.
- Regenerate using the selected variation.
- Repeat the process to allow gradual conceptual drift.
Construction:
The project combines AI generation and traditional hand-drawing techniques. AI-driven images are selected at random through iterative regeneration, allowing for gradual and unpredictable shifts in form and concept. Selected AI outputs are then interpreted and rendered by hand to create a physical counterpart, forming a limited-edition series.
note. The sequences in Emergent forms were generated using Dall-E 2
