“A Poem Seen by the Machine – 2023“ is a followup AI-generated video work that explores the fascinating interplay of artificial intelligence, poetry, and human creativity. This piece presents a second version of Richard Brautigan’s iconic poem, “All watched over by machines of loving grace,” crafted by AI technologies separated by only 2 years after “A Poem Seen by the Machine – 2021“.

This installation is a stark contrast to the older version of the interpretation, generated using early AI technology, creating a contemporary iteration brought to life by state-of-the-art generative AI. This juxtaposition not only highlights the evolution of AI’s creative capabilities but also underscores the concept of curation within AI-assisted art. The accompanying parameters offer valuable insights, revealing that the AI-driven creative process involves the curation of the AI model’s creator, the AI itself, the software user who directs the AI, as well as the exhibition curator – each contributing to the final artistic output.

At its core, “A Poem Seen by the Machine” explores the poetic irony of machines interpreting a poem that envisions their role as caretakers of humanity. This irony pushes the viewer to reflect on the evolving co-dependent relationship humans and technology share and how the curation of AI knowledge, along with the choices made by creators, users, and exhibition curators, shapes our everyday lives as much as it is reshaping the creative landscape.