Thoughts About AI

ARS Electronica – Human vs AI, or Both?

A week in Linz turned out to be more than a conference.
It was mental cardio at full intensity — the kind that quietly steals your sleep.
The central question echoed everywhere:
AI or human? Or perhaps both?
And ultimately — who wins?

Technological development doesn’t just impress.
Sometimes it unsettles.
Not because it looks dystopian,
but because it forces a personal inventory:
What will my role be?
What value do I bring?
Which skills will still matter?

Niemeyer and Siebert (2023) explore the idea of AI enabling
a form of mental time travel — reviving personal memories
and reshaping collective visions of the future.
Does that imply access to every stored memory?
And if so, how would the human brain process such abundance?

AI Is Already Everywhere

Whether we like it or not, AI has quietly entered every layer of daily life.
You cannot open a digital platform in the morning
without encountering its invisible influence.

There is talk of smart cities where virtually everything
is monitored and optimized by algorithms.
AI-generated music is already on the radio.
Will AI become the composer,
and human performers mere interpreters of machine ideas?

At ARS Electronica, AI even has its own space on the wall —
a recognition of a new kind of artist.
For now, no humanoid Ringo Starr,
no DJ mixing air instead of vinyl.
But the direction feels clear.

Major companies are actively experimenting with AI.
A representative from Domel mentioned that humans remain “in charge.”
For now.

But what does this mean for factory workers?
In automotive plants like Škoda,
robots already dominate production lines.
Breaks can feel like a privilege measured in steps from the workstation.

At a fast-food restaurant in Kranj,
a friendly robot serves your order.
It feels cozy and futuristic.
Yet meaningful communication is still missing.

Bread and Games 2.0

Will the old phrase “Give people bread and games” still apply?
Or will it become simply “Give them games” —
robots producing the bread,
AI optimizing performance?

Perhaps athletes are heading into diamond ages.
Or perhaps even their podiums
will one day belong to increasingly agile machines.