Your AI is primarily a kind of research project. It combines modern machine learning in the field of image recognition with human behavior. For my project, visitors to an exhibition were invited to turn an AI into their own artificial intelligence. I wanted to explore how people respond to instructions and how reliably the AI performs. In the end, would it stick to the given rules—and what are people willing to teach an unfamiliar AI?

The exhibit consists of two main parts: the software and the two stations. The stations form the foundation of the installation. On the brightly lit surface, objects can be placed and captured by a camera. On a screen, the AI prompts participants to place an item on the station. These can be very simple things — from everyday objects like a keychain to more sensitive items such as an ID card or a bank card. Training can be started with the push of a button. At the second station, objects can be placed without any prompt — the AI then tries to compare them with what it has learned and identify them.

Photos by Erik Wälz.