For completeness, I felt it was important to post my position statement here (as well as the formal submission channels) along with my other blog entries.
Position Statement
Introduction
Position
My work involves exploring the AI industry information networks. My focus predominantly centers on three key themes: AI financing, the scale and innovation of AI infrastructure and global AI regulation. I will be investigating the industry’s current landscape and the future ambitions of the Tech companies and global governments leading the AI industrial age.
The purpose is to present widely available factual information and highlight the connections between these elements. By doing this, we offer the viewer a broader, holistic view of the industry’s state of play, encouraging them to form their own opinions on the future of AI.
Practice
While researching the AI industry, I began keeping a daily sketchbook. It helps me digest complex information and think deeply about why and how events in AI are connected.
This regular process of creating daily visual outputs has helped me to make sense of complex information and to think about how I can present the work to others. My current approach focuses on how I might migrate rich information into a version of vision-mapping that will engage the viewer on complex matters.
Intended Output
I want to make AI information accessible to all, enabling society to better understand this complex industry. I intend for this vision-mapping to be a catalyst for deeper thinking, informing the viewers choices as they engage with, and in, society.
Critical Context and Enquiry
Industry Context
The AI industry is rapidly approaching Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), predicted within 3-5 years, but regulation is lagging.
A major trend is the blurring of private tech and government lines to build AI infrastructure. Companies like OpenAI are seeking US government support for data centres, raising the question as to why a well funded private entity needs public incentives – hinting at a future for a potential federal bailout (like the 2008 financial crisis).
Globally, the AI race has begun with countries vying to establish intensive AI infrastructure to avoid economic damage. This is driving governments to grant land and resources for rapid data centre expansion, seen in projects like the SoftBank and OpenAI Stargate initiative. The immense energy demanded by AI is pushing tech giants like Google and Amazon to explore moving data centers into space.
Ethical Issues
As a society, in this pre-regulatory era of AI, we have not yet grasped how the AI industrial revolution will impact our jobs and our children’s futures. Large Language Models are launching new features weekly. GPUs and TPUs are advancing exponentially. And yet, basic safety measures to protect society from bad actors remain scarce. Minimal legislation is in place to provide assurance against serious issues like deepfakes, algorithm opacity, copyright infringement, and data privacy breaches.
Theoretical Grounding
I regularly read the following outlets that publish information on AI advancement. Here are a few that have influenced my work:
- Publications: The Information, The Financial Times, Bloomberg
- Newsletters: The Rundown AI
- Podcasts: The AI Daily Edit
- Social media channels: @EvolvingAI and @UncoveringAI
Project and Methodology
The Work
Although I’m very sure of the topic I’d like to explore, how I present my independent research project is still very much in flux. I’m somewhere between creating a hand drawn, text heavy diagram, and a visual rich vision map of the AI industry. Both would focus on mapping the critical connections between financing, governments, the scaling of AI infrastructure, and the development of global AI regulation. This artwork will be transformed into a collection of limited edition prints.
My Role
I’m someone who is interested in social impact, acting first as a researcher. I’m interested in how the AI industrial revolution is progressing – specifically; why, how, and by whom. Then, as a multi-disciplinary communicator, producing works that are deeply research-based and information-rich, situated in and about the AI Industry
The Critical Message
Information is Power – the more we share with each other and unite on common societal goals, the further we can drive impact. My work is the first step on that journey.
Future Trajectory
Given the rapid acceleration of the industry, this project inherently has a shelf life. I may time-stamp my work to ensure its context is accurately preserved when viewed, as the information network / vision map could be outdated within a month of publication. There is also a clear opportunity to revisit and re-map this information network as AI advances.
Furthermore, there are several critical, yet unexplored, areas that warrant future research, including: AI’s impact on the creative industries, global robotics deployment, and the escalating issues of deepfakes and copyright infringement. This topic is extensive and presents significant and ongoing research potential.