Media artist Refik Anadol has introduced the world’s first open-source generative AI model through an installation dedicated to nature. Showcased at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Living Archive: Nature utilizes the Large Nature Model, which Anadol’s studio developed for DATALAND, a future museum dedicated to data visualization and AI arts.
The installation seeks to integrate AI with nature to foster a deeper connection between people and the environment. It utilizes generative AI to simulate multisensory experiences of various ecosystems, incorporating visual, sound, and scent elements based on natural world data.
Anadol’s installation not only generates visually striking scenes trained on data from sources such as National Geographic and the Smithsonian Institute but also incorporates real-time data, ambient sounds, and scents associated with the depicted environments. Collaborating with scientific institutions and leveraging advanced technologies like LiDAR and photogrammetry, Anadol’s team utilized data from locations worldwide, including the Amazon rainforest.
The project received positive feedback from the scientific community, and Anadol expressed a commitment to ensuring its safety and scientific accuracy. The model’s sustainable operation is made possible through collaboration with Google and Nvidia, minimizing environmental impact by using renewable energy during training.
The installation is positioned as a bridge between discussions on AI and climate change at the conference, encouraging contributions to its AI model from global institutions and archives. Anadol expresses optimism about AI’s potential to enhance human understanding of the world when trained on ethically sourced data.
In addition to the visual and sensory elements, Anadol introduced an “AI character” named Fiona, capable of answering nature-related questions. The artist also highlighted his NFT collection, “Winds of Yawanawa” (2023), which merges weather data from the Amazon rainforest with artworks by young Yawanawa artists.
An exhibition will be showcased at the Serpentine North in London from February 16 to April 7, featuring Anadol’s previous work and the British premiere of this latest installation.
