Prosthetic Knowledge draws from the Greek myth of Pythia and the Oracle of Delphi, who is widely acknowledged as one of the first female Oracles. The Oracle held a position of immense power within ancient times. Prophetic themes are a common feature of mythological narratives and the Oracle acts as a conduit or divinatory guide, through which abstract yet poetic interpretations of a divine will signify the transition from the common world into that of the technological supernatural.
Viewed from a feminist perspective, the work reimagines the internet as a sacred site that utilises mythology within the current moment of advancing algorithmic systems. It questions the role of technology and how it may be used to highlight gender violence through the guise of a modern-day Oracle. As problems with artificial intelligence become more invasive, how do we begin to challenge and address these systems in alternative ways? By training an AI model in histories of violence toward women, Prosthetic Knowledge creates a series of poignant narratives, highlighting the need to always keep humans at the centre of technological advances.
This work is made using a variety of mediums such as GIFs, performance capture, 3D modelling, video, interactive web drawing, animation, and coding and narrative; both written and audio is made utilising artificial intelligence.
Credits
Background Music - Cunnartach by Invercauld Used with kind permission from Invercauld and Cyclic Record Label.
The AI voice was created by combining and training an AI model with four women's voices: Asmaa Sayed Ali, Katerina Baros, Elaine Hoey, and Emiko Singh
Facial Performance Capture, Actor: Antoinette Grappa
The narrative was created by an AI model trained on a history of violence towards women.
The Oracle bot was adapted and modelled on the programme Eliza, the first bot ever written in the mid-1960s at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory by Joseph Weizenbaum
Interactive web coding/programming and all artwork: Elaine Hoey
Curated by Chris Clarke
Commissioned by the Glucksman, University College Cork
