Turning to AI for inspiration

The curating team noted that AARON is considered the world's first AI system designed specifically for artistic creation, and this piece is currently the only known artwork independently signed by the system.

With AI agents guiding the tour, the exhibition invites visitors to rethink the rules of existence in the AI era. The academic co-chairs point out that in the age of AI, when machines have taken over almost all the "doing", irreplaceable human capacity should ask questions, solve problems with people, and exercise their brains as muscles to prevent cognitive atrophy.

"Humans and AI will find a way to coexist peacefully and harmoniously. In today's world, creativity requires something rare and unique," says Nian Zixuan, the exhibition's lead curator.

Luo Cheng, a 37-year-old director, curator and artist, has created hundreds of visual AI works since 2022. Born into an artistic family, Luo also stresses the "rareness and uniqueness" of human art creation.

In Luo's view, what AI produces is "high-quality, average content", which means it can efficiently learn and execute the existing rules. Looking ahead, he believes human artists with unique artistic expressions never seen before will remain invaluable.

"With the advent of AI, when production becomes limitless, and people no longer need to worry about production efficiency, art may bring us back to the meaning of human existence. That is, I create and share purely because it makes me and others happy. That would also be a wonderful state," says Luo.