Artists Challenge AI's Addictive Design Through Immersive and Disruptive Projects
Contemporary artists are creating works that critique the addictive design of AI technologies, which use immersion to retain users. Lauren Lee McCarthy's ongoing project 'LAUREN' (2017–present) involves the artist acting as a smart home assistant, exploring care-based immersion through human surveillance. Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst's 2024 exhibition 'The Call' at London's Serpentine gallery disrupted immersion by revealing AI training processes, using choral recordings to develop generative models with ethical data governance. These projects address concerns about Big Tech's exploitative practices, proposing alternatives focused on community, consent, and care rather than profit-driven engagement.
Key facts
- Lauren Lee McCarthy's 'LAUREN' project began in 2017 and involves the artist remotely controlling smart home devices for participants.
- Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst's exhibition 'The Call' was presented at Serpentine in London during 2024.
- Both projects respond to concerns about AI's addictive design, which leverages immersion through personalized feedback and endless interaction loops.
Entities
Artists
- Lauren Lee McCarthy
- Holly Herndon
- Mat Dryhurst
Institutions
- Serpentine
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom