Sarah Friend on Prompt Baby, AI Consent, and Data-Center Sculptures

Artist and software engineer Sarah Friend discusses her AI project Prompt Baby, which reverses the typical power dynamic of AI-generated images by allowing collectors to prompt an AI version of herself while she retains control over which images are realized. The project emerged from her interest in the economic value of digital art and the body, influenced by her research into OnlyFans creators and their approaches to consent and boundaries. Friend explains that her background in blockchain and cryptoeconomics shaped her understanding of protocols as an artistic medium. She also addresses the mixed reactions to Prompt Baby, noting that it alienated some of her existing audience while attracting new viewers. Her latest sculptures use materials from data centers, such as Ethernet cables and patch panels, exploring the lifelike qualities of machine parts. Friend remains committed to imagining better technological systems despite concerns about AI's military applications. The interview was conducted by Anika Meier for SLEEK magazine.