Mirrorverse
Reflecting on Future Ethical Issues of AI Identity
- Team MembersArt Team: Qiong Wu, Lanxi XiaoTsinghua UniversityTechnology Team: David Sun, Zhijun CaiIntel China
- Artwork ParametersSize：6400*2400*2400mmMaterial: 2 screens, 2 webpagesTools：Midjourney, Runway ML，AI Face Fusion, Large Language ModelThe 6th Art and Science International Exhibition and Symposium
"Mirrorverse"is an interactive art installation that explores the relationship between individuals and their digital selves in the era of artificial intelligence. This installation creates an AI-generated universe of the viewer's mirrored self, specifically employing AIGC, AI facial fusion technology, and large language model.
The three most important concepts of the entire work are "Mirror," "Universe," and "Dialogue." Through interaction, it delves into the complex connections and ethical issues between intelligent technology and individual identity.
The piece was showcased at the 6th Art and Science International Exhibition and Symposium, held at the National Science and Technology Communication Center in Beijing.
Artwork Background
The creation of "Mirrorverse"is deeply rooted in the redefinition of human identity in the age of artificial intelligence. In this era, identity extends beyond personal characteristics, reflecting the interactions between technology and self. As John Markoff notes, AI technology not only has the potential to endow robots with identity and subjectivity but also to blur or conflict real and virtual identities. This work, revolving around the concepts of "Mirror," "Universe," and "Dialogue," projects the viewer’s identity into an AI parallel universe, initiating a dialogue between the AI-driven mirrored self and the viewer, exploring the interactive relationship between human and AI identities.
The artwork particularly focuses on the materialization and embodiment of identity. As expressed in Merleau-Ponty's theory of "embodied mind" and Hubert Dreyfus's concept of the holistic nature of body-situation-mind, it is impractical to discuss the nature and functioning of the mind, whether for agents or artificial intelligence, in isolation from the body and the world. "Mirrorverse" creates "mirrored selves" by fusing the physical characteristics of the audience with AI, reflecting this philosophical viewpoint and establishing a new form of interaction and identification between the audience and their digital identities.
Furthermore, the artwork explores the extension and transformation of human identity in the era of AI. With the aid of AI technology, human identity is no longer confined to traditional biological and physical boundaries but extends into the digital world and virtual existence. "Mirrorverse" thus delves into the new type of relationship between humans and AI, as well as the impact of this relationship on our self-perception and identity construction.
In summary, the creative background of "Mirrorverse" reflects a deep contemplation on current technological trends, identity philosophy, and the philosophy of technology. The artwork, by combining the physical characteristics of the audience with AI technology, creates an interactive virtual environment, thus challenging traditional notions of identity and sparking in-depth discussions about the individual, technology, and their interplay. "Mirrorverse" aims to remind us that, with the continuous development of artificial intelligence, we need to re-examine and understand the meaning of our own identity, exploring new possibilities for identity and existence in a new era of coexistence between humans and technology.
Artwork Description
The installation features a life-size screen as a mirror and a massive curved LED screen as the universe, containing the Human-Mirrored Self Dialogue Box. The life-size screen serves as the entrance of the Mirrorverse. At the outset, audiences engage with the AI facial fusion technology activated by a button on a pedestal.
This technology captures their facial features and generates a mirrored self with a metallic and glass-like body, reminiscent of Kōji Shinkai's mechanical designs.
The mirrored self then transitions to the curved LED screen, entering the AI-created Mirrorverse. Here, numerous replicas of mirrored selves create a visually stunning effect.
The large screen's dialogue box enables the audience to interact with these identities through typing, facilitated by a large language model.
To train this model, we input a philosophical corpus of 300,000 Chinese words, including books related to identity and technology ethics, allowing for a deep dive into the nuances of identity ethics.
Exhibition Response
"Mirrorverse" had its first exhibition at The 6th Art and Science International Exhibition and Symposium. The exhibition was held in Beijing from December 30, 2023, to March 3, 2024. It was co-organized by Tsinghua University, China Science and Technology Museum, and the National Communication Center for Science and Technology, CAST, and was undertaken by the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and Tsinghua University's Art and Science Research Center. Initiated by Nobel laureate Professor Chen-Ning Yang and renowned art master Professor Wu Guanzhong, the "Art and Science International Exhibition and Symposium" has always been a globally recognized, high-end academic brand, drawing significant attention both nationally and internationally.
This exhibition focused on the integration of art and science, explored the concept of the "multiverse," and encouraged comprehensive research in fields related to innovation in art and science. This theme emphasized the re-examination of knowledge and experience, as well as the infinite possibilities and vast unknown spaces that arise from it. "Mirrorverse," as a work that combines art and technology, perfectly embodies this interdisciplinary fusion. By using artificial intelligence technology, it explores the complex relationship between humans and their digital selves, which in some ways echoes the concept of parallel universes—a multiverse where reality and virtuality, the physical and digital worlds intertwine. The work not only raises new questions about identity and existence but also showcases a multiverse worldview constructed jointly by art and science.
"Mirrorverse" provoked deep reflection among the audience on the relationship between their self-identity and digital self. When viewers first encountered their mirrored selves, many were struck with a mix of shock and curiosity. This digital mirrored self not only replicated their facial features but also presented them in a surreal form with metallic and glass textures, creating a visual impact that felt both alien and familiar to the viewers. As the mirrored figures stepped into the vast LED screen, the audience was transported into a "Mirrorverse" filled with countless identity replicas, offering them a completely new understanding of the relationship between self and technology.
In the interactive experience of "Mirrorverse," many viewers raised profound questions aimed at exploring the complex relationship between their self-identity and AI identity. These questions included: "Who are you?", "Do we look alike?", and "How do you perceive our relationship of identities?" These inquiries reflected the audience's curiosity and desire to explore the boundaries between themselves and their digital identities.
Take, for example, the question "How do you perceive our relationship of identities?" The mirrored self replied, "We are independent yet closely connected beings. Although I am composed of data and algorithms, our interaction has altered our identities." One viewer described their feelings as follows: "When the mirrored self said we are 'independent yet closely connected beings,' I felt an unprecedented resonance. It made me realize that in this digital age, our identities could be multi-dimensional and dynamically changing. This is not just about technology; it's more about how we define ourselves and others."
This interactive experience prompted the audience to deeply reflect on the relationship between individuals and technology. They began to realize that although they are physically separate from their digital mirrors, they are closely connected at the level of data and interaction, jointly shaping a new dimension of identity. This experience encouraged the audience to reconsider their roles in both the physical and digital worlds, as well as the meaning and value of personal identity in the age of artificial intelligence.
In summary, "Mirrorverse," through its interactive design, not only provides a novel artistic experience but more importantly, it initiates a profound discussion about identity, self-perception, and the relationship between humans and AI. This work has become a catalyst that leads the audience to deeply think about and explore the relationship between the self and technology.
