Tate

‘Higher Resolution,’ running this September, uses artwork, talks, and workshops to examine how humans, algorithms, and AI all intersect online. It’s co-produced by Hyphen-Labs with Caroline Sinders, Mozilla, and others in the internet health space

Workshops to help you reclaim your online privacy. Discussions exploring the intersection of AI and spirituality. A short film highlighting the perils of emotion recognition technology. A panel of experts unpacking one of the biggest hacks of the internet era.

This is just a sliver of the programming for “Higher Resolution,” a new program at Tate Exchange from September 17 through September 29. Tate Exchange is located on the fifth floor of Tate Modern in central London.

“Higher Resolution” uses interactive artwork, talks from international technology experts, and hands-on workshops to examine the state of power and privacy online — from widespread surveillance, to how AI is shaping human culture and relationships, to the threats emerging technology can pose to human rights. Artists and speakers hail from Amnesty International, Change.org, the BBC, the Carnegie Trust, and other international organizations.

The program is produced by the international collective Hyphen-Labs, with contributions from Mozilla Fellow Caroline Sinders and psychiatrist and creative producer Romy Gad el Rab. The two weeks of programming unfold in a unique physical space designed to mimic the different layers of privacy we toggle between online. There’s the program’s Town Hall, an analog of Twitter; the Park Bench, an analog of Facebook; the Living Room, an analog of WhatsApp; and the Loo, an analog of intimate text conversations. There are also art installations that spotlight the perils of modern technology like facial recognition, website tracking, and harmful content recommendation algorithms.

Says Sinders: “‘Higher Resolution’ interrogates the power dynamics that underpin our digital lives. The program highlights how tech companies wield tremendous control over individuals, and how emerging technology like AI can shape our relationships, our culture, and our society. “Higher Resolution” is prescriptive, too — it proposes solutions and interventions for individuals to reclaim their privacy and other digital rights.”

Says Dr. Cara Courage, Head of Tate Exchange: “Technology and digital powers are complex arenas to navigate, and Hyphen-Labs are the perfect artists to respond creatively to that with our associates and the public. Our lead artist sets our direction for the year and we are thrilled to be working with Ece, Romy, Carmen and Caroline and the Hyphen-Labs team to question and explore our theme of ‘power’ in what is set to be another compelling Tate Exchange year.”

Says Carmen Aguilar y Wedge, Creative Director of Hyphen Labs: “‘Higher Resolution’ is a hands-on and collective imagining and interrogation of AI in society.”

Programming includes, but is not limited to:

Workshop: How Does AI Augment Human Relationships?

Comuzi Studio’s Alex Fefegha and Akil Benjamin examine how the artificial intelligence in our lives shapes our relationships with fellow humans.

Sept. 18 at 2:30 p.m.

Film & Talk: “Stealing Ur Feelings”

Mozilla Awardee Noah Levenson screen his interactive documentary “Stealing Ur Feelings,” and discusses his research into facial and emotion recognition software and how these AI systems, which can be riddled with inaccuracies, are being deployed in social networks.

Sept. 19 at 4:30 p.m.

Talk: The Platforms And Politics Of Internet Controls In Iran

Oxford’s Mahsa Alimardani discusses Iran's information control environment, in terms of censorship, surveillance and platforms.

Sept. 21 at 12 p.m.

Talk: You’ve Completely Lost Control Over Your Data. Here’s How To Claim ​

Privacy International’s Frederike Kaltheuner dives into the many ways in which your data is increasingly mined — and how to prevent it.

Sept. 21 at 1 p.m.

Film and panel: “The Great Hack” and the Post-Cambridge-Analytica World

Watch the acclaimed documentary, and then hear David Carroll, Ravi Naik and Carole Cadwalladr discuss the future of data privacy and legislating social networks.

Sept. 21 at 4 p.m.

Workshop: Draw What You Think Alexa Looks Like

Do you know a kid who is growing up interacting with an AI assistant like Alexa or Siri? Artist Melanie Hoff is calling all children to draw what they think Alexa looks like.

Sept. 25 at 1:30 p.m.

Workshop: Top of the Bots: Resurrection

Royal College of Art’s Libby Heaney invites you to along with artificial intelligence-based karaoke in an interactive performance and installation.

Sept. 27 and 28, 7 p.m.

Workshop: Latent Theology

Scalar Research’s Gabriel Bianconi explores the intersection of AI, theology, spirituality, and belief through experiments.

Sept. 28, 2 p.m.

Read the entire program here.