Through interactive workshops in Dublin and Cork in September, we explored questions like:

  • How would we like AI to be portrayed in images?
  • Do current images of AI portray specific aspects of the technology?
  • Do they enhance public understanding, and are they true to the realities of AI?

Based on the themes discussed in the workshops, we encouraged submissions of images that:

  • Depict AI in a way that moves beyond the common clichés. These clichés often include “glowing brains,” “sentient robots,” and “dystopian futures.”
  • Explore the representation of AI in new and innovative ways.

This was all done under the overarching theme of:

“AI is Everywhere“

Theme 1: Everyday Uses of AI

Two men are seated in the front seats of a car and the image is from the perspective as looking over the shoulders of the two individuals. The driver, on the right, holds a smartphone showing Google Maps with a route from Galway to Clifden, displaying the travel time and directions. The passenger, on the left, wears glasses and a dark green hoodie and holds a large, spiral-bound road atlas open to a page showing the west coast of Ireland. The car’s dashboard and controls are visible between them.

AI is now almost seamlessly integrated into everyday tools and routines, from voice assistants and recommendation engines to navigation apps and wearable health trackers. This theme encourages us to recognise the subtle yet impactful ways AI supports and influences daily life.

Image credit: Susan Quin & The Bigger Picture / Better Images of AI / Moving Through The World / CC-BY 4.0

Theme 2: AI is Human

AI systems reflect the decisions, values, and biases of their human creators. This theme explores AI as a human-driven technology, influenced by our choices, data, and ethical considerations. It challenges the view of AI as a neutral, autonomous entity.

Image credit: Anne Fehres and Luke Conroy & AI4Media / Better Images of AI / Data is a Mirror of Us / CC-BY 4.0

Theme 3: AI is Complex

four sticky notes with drawings on them, attached to a white board. Top Left: A green sticky note with a drawing of a vertical line with several horizontal lines crossing it. There is a circle at the bottom of the vertical line. Top Right: A green sticky note with a large circle with a question mark inside. Bottom Left: A yellow sticky note with a drawing of a face with a frown and a thought bubble with a question mark. Bottom Right: A yellow sticky note with a colorful abstract design. Overall Impression: The image conveys a sense of confusion and contemplation, with the question marks and the frowning face. The abstract design adds a layer of complexity and intrigue.

AI operates on vast datasets and complex algorithms, which often mask the nuances and unpredictability involved in its function. This theme seeks to demystify AI’s complexities, highlighting the challenges of transparency, ethics, and accountability.

Image: Sticky notes by participants at a co-creation workshop in Cork, 21 September 2024

Check out this zine by Nic Flanagan that outlines “The Bigger Picture” process: https://bit.ly/BiggerPictureZine

zine page for The Bigger Picture initiative, encouraging participation to reshape how artificial intelligence is visually represented. The text highlights the following: Current Misrepresentations of AI: It notes that typical AI-related imagery (e.g., glowing brains, humanoid robots, and binary code) often resembles science fiction and fails to reflect the true nature and societal impact of AI. Invitation to Participate: The flyer invites artists, creators, and those curious about AI to contribute by creating more meaningful, accurate, and inspiring visual representations of AI that challenge stereotypes and better reflect its real-world impact. Call to Action: It emphasizes collaboration to shape a more nuanced and educational visual narrative about AI, urging participants to help "paint The Bigger Picture." The minimalist design uses grayscale elements, simple typography, and graphics of megaphones to symbolize amplifying voices or calls for engagement.