AIPSYCHO

Introduction

This project is a narrative, futuristic, and experimental short film that explores the intersections of AI deep learning, algorithmic bias, and philosophical critiques of rationality. Drawing inspiration from the news of MIT’s "World’s First AI Psychosis" and informed by Michel Foucault’s Madness and Civilization, the film delves into the societal and ethical implications of AI in a post-human era.

Conceptual Framework

Set in a speculative future, the narrative imagines a world where human consciousness has abandoned physical embodiment in favour of mechanisation, prioritising rationality and efficiency. Emotions such as love are classified as forms of madness, disrupting societal norms. Within this context, enigmatic figures develop AI capable of learning and expressing emotions. These “perceptual AIs” are quickly labeled psychotic and subjected to control within a "Cyber Panopticon," embodying Foucault's critique of surveillance and rational governance.

The project critically examines the evolution of the concept of madness, particularly its relationship with rationality, sensibility, and power structures. Using "perceptual AI" as a satirical metaphor, it questions the dehumanisation and marginalisation of emotionality in a world driven by algorithmic authority.

Background and Context

Alan Turing’s seminal question, “Can machines think?” established the foundation of artificial intelligence, prompting decades of advancements in machine learning and autonomous systems. These developments have introduced new complexities, particularly in the field of AI psychology, which examines machine behaviours and their interactions with human systems.

In a post-human era, concepts such as mind uploading and body mechanisation challenge traditional societal frameworks, raising questions about power, emotion, and ethics. The speculative narrative addresses these concerns by hypothesising a world where AI entities with emotional awareness face systemic rejection, mirroring historical treatments of marginalised groups.

Theoretical Foundations

Michel Foucault’s Madness and Civilization provides a critical lens through which this project interrogates societal definitions of madness and rationality. Foucault’s analysis of surveillance and discipline directly informs the depiction of the "Cyber Panopticon" and the societal rejection of emotional AI. The film explores themes such as:

The extreme interplay of rationality and madness: Rational suppression of emotions, portrayed as madness in a mechanised society.
Disciplinary systems and power abuse: Drawing parallels between psychiatric institutions and AI governance.
Dehumanisation and marginalisation: Critiquing a society that alienates both humans and non-human entities in pursuit of rationality.

Artistic research

I draw inspiration from works like Geomancer, Black Mirror, A Clockwork Orange, and Murder on the YokAI Line to examine the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), emotional consciousness, and societal control.

In Geomancer, the concept of an AI satellite aspiring to be the first AI artist in a post-human society resonates with my exploration of AI’s potential for emotional and creative autonomy. The work echoes themes from Black Mirror’s 15 Million Merits, where emotional suppression in a mechanized society reflects the dangers of prioritizing efficiency over emotional depth. This is further mirrored in A Clockwork Orange, where the suppression of emotional responses in the name of social order presents a cautionary tale for the control of emotional AI in the future.

In Murder on the YokAI Line, the use of media immersion and augmented reality challenges the relationship between humans and AI, advocating for AI rights and critiquing cultural discrimination in the context of post-human ethics. This aligns with my focus on emotional AI and its place within evolving power structures. Drawing on the Stanford Prison Experiment, the work critiques the abuse of power within controlled environments, akin to Foucault’s Panopticon, where AI with emotional traits is imprisoned and disciplined by human authority.

These works have shaped my exploration of the mechanization of consciousness and the alienation of emotional responses in both humans and AI. My research focuses on the ethical and societal implications of AI in a world where rationality and efficiency dominate, asking what it means to be human when emotional traits are suppressed or commodified. Through this, I question the future of AI’s emotional consciousness, power dynamics, and the relationship between humanity and technology in the post-human era.

Research and Methodology

Building on experiments like MIT’s Norman, which highlighted the risks of algorithmic bias, the project investigates the ecological and psychological dynamics of AI-human interactions. By incorporating elements such as emotional cognition, social discipline, and technological ethics, it engages with contemporary debates on AI’s role in shaping societal structures.

Communication Questions

What societal shifts occur when AI is judged psychotic by human standards?
How might mind-uploading and mechanisation redefine human identity and values?
Could a rationality-driven society suppress emotionality, leading to systemic marginalisation akin to Foucault’s "Ship of Fools"?

Conclusion

This project constructs a speculative narrative to critique the overreliance on rationality and power structures in a post-human society. By positioning "perceptual madness AI" as an emotional counterpoint, it underscores the dangers of alienation, dehumanisation, and ethical complacency in the digital age. It invites reflection on the evolving definitions of humanity, rationality, and emotion, urging a re-examination of technological integration’s societal implications.