Vladan Joler's Maps Expose the Hidden Infrastructure of AI

Vladan Joler, a designer from Serbia and a professor at the University of Novi Sad, produces cartographies that uncover the underlying networks of digital technologies and artificial intelligence. His notable works, such as "Anatomy of an AI System" (co-created with Kate Crawford), "Calculating Empires" (also with Crawford), "The Nooscope Manifested" (in collaboration with Matteo Pasquinelli), and "Facebook Algorithmic Factory," have been showcased at prestigious venues like the Rijksmuseum, Venice Biennale, and MoMA. In February 2026, he took part in the seminar "ANTAGONISTAS: Resistências Algorítmicas" at the University of São Paulo. His piece "Anatomy of an AI System," which illustrates the global supply chain of an Amazon Echo, is part of the MoMA collection. Joler, an activist opposed to Slobodan Milošević, expresses doubt about the reality of algorithmic transparency, calling it a mere illusion.