This event will explore the representations of AI in art and popular culture with a focus on projects from film, improvised comedy and contemporary art. It is part of a series designed to bring together artists, developers, designers, technologists and industry professionals to discuss the applications of artificial intelligence in the creative industries.

Piotr Mirowski, AI improv performer, HumanMachine: "Improvised Theatre with Artificial Intelligence"

This talk and performance between Albert and A.L.Ex from HumanMachine will showcase how improv comedy can be assisted (or made difficult) by a computer. The aim of the show is to raise questions about the nature of spontaneity and communication. Can we model language by patterns? How can a statistical language model inform improv, which is about doing the most "obvious" thing? How easily do we suspend disbelief?

Albert is a lovable nerd who dreams of the big stage. Lonely but resourceful, Albert builds himself a friend, whom he calls A.L.Ex, a unique computer creation running artificial intelligence. The human and the machine pair up to make an improv comedy show based on your suggestions.

Albert is the stage name of Piotr Mirowski. The actual performer trained in Toulouse, New York and London, as an actor at the LSDA – London School of Dramatic Art and as an improviser with such groups as The Showstoppers, The Nursery, Hoopla and C cédille. By day, Piotr is a research scientist in deep learning who worked on natural language processing.

Murray Shanahan, Professor of Cognitive Robotics, Imperial College: "Creative Responses to Artificial Intelligence"

Science fiction has long offered a philosophical critique of the prospect of artificial intelligence. But now that AI technologies are increasingly real rather than fictional the wider world of culture and the arts is beginning to respond. I will offer my personal perpective on this based on my experience working with the film Ex Machina, and collaborating with artist collective Random International.

Murray Shanahan is Professor of Cognitive Robotics in the Dept. of Computing at Imperial College London, where he heads the Neurodynamics Group. Educated at Imperial College and Cambridge University (King’s College), he became a full professor in 2006. His publications span artificial intelligence, robotics, logic, dynamical systems, computational neuroscience, and philosophy of mind. He was scientific advisor to the film Ex Machina, and regularly appears in the media to comment on artificial intelligence and robotics. His books include “Embodiment and the Inner Life” (2010), and “The Technological Singularity” (2015).

The schedule for the evening will be as follows.

6.30pm - 7pm Arrive

7pm - 7.10pm Introduction

7.10pm-7.50pm First talk: Piotr Mirowski

7.50pm-8.30pm Second talk: Murray Shanahan

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Acting Intelligence: AI on stage and screen