During the development of this project, early AI image generation models were becoming available (DALLE-1). DRIFTNET had a neutral "observational" focus on the intersection of art and tech, and often in our meetings we'd debate the potential implications of AI (as well as other digital trends we were seeing). At that time, there was not a whole lot of commonly known information available regarding it's development, such as the data sources AI was trained on, or the concerns regarding energy usage.

The DALLE-1 model was used to generate a few of the images in this project (which I will specify). This version of the model produced images with significant artifacting. It was uncanny looking, and it wasn't at a capacity yet to be convincing as a real, "man-made" photograph or illustration.

The intention of its usage was not meant to replace work that I or another individual could have made. It's usage in the project is simply meant to showcase the technology or the "medium" - the fact that it was AI, and the unsettling feelings it produced. It felt fitting for the subject matter of the project at the time.

Now at the point of writing this, AI is a huge point of controversy especially in the industry of art & design. My vague and pretentious opinion on the matter is as follows: the medium is the message, there is value in process.