Hybrid Agencies

Corporations such as Facebook, Google, Uber, and Baidu use AI technologies to deliver targeted advertisements, search engine results, product recommendations, to develop self-driving cars, to perform image recognition to track and identify individuals, and to build so-called “smart assistants” (Siri, Alexa) that understand and respond to our requests. These technologies are also increasingly being used to monitor bank accounts, pre-screen loan applications, for predictive policing, to make sentencing recommendations in the criminal justice system, to grade students based on past performance. AI technologies are continuously being integrated into our lives and actions.

Boston-based MASARY Studios, in collaboration with New York-based choreographer Mike Esperanza, presents “Hybrid Agencies,” which investigates how state-of-the-art machine learning and AI technologies can represent the human body and movement, as well as the ways that such systems misrepresent or fail to represent the human body. This three-part event starts by inviting you to enact some facets of these technologies before the dance performance featuring original sound score and AI-generated video by MASARY’s Ryan Edwards and Jeremy Stewart, PhD.

Following the premiere, join Stewart for a conversation and presentation that introduces how these technologies work and how we might begin to think about them in light of their omnipresence and fast growth and development, through the lens of creative practices and art making.

Please note: This is a three-act event, with each act taking place in a different area of the Museum and requiring audience to move with the piece throughout the evening. Seating is general admission and is first come, first serve for some portion of the evening- for specific seating requests please contact adults@mos.org in advance. Seating is not guaranteed unless requested in advance.

This event was funded by the David and Marion Ellis Endowment Fund.