BS DC Import ID
node:54962
BS DC Import Time

Spectral Haven

New VR experience from the ZKM Hertzlab

The ZKM Hertzlab's new VR experience »Spectral Haven« is set in a future that could already be now: How do we deal with the machine and AI-driven service industry that is increasingly dominating our everyday lives? What is behind the human desire to create a synthetic consciousness and merge into it? And what will actually happen once we have achieved this?

Import ID
r17_text:1851027
Admin Title
D7 Paragraph: r17_text / GPC_ID: 154226
Display
default
Layout
flex-row-9-3 reverse

»Death is a great tragedy…a profound loss…I don’t accept it…I think people are kidding themselves when they say they are comfortable with death.«

― Ray Kurzweil

Import ID
r17_faq:1851160
Admin Title
D7 Paragraph: r17_faq / GPC_ID: 154227
Display
list-accordion
Layout
undefined
Import ID
r17_faq:1851160:gpc_content.field_gpc_cntnr_hd_rl_gpc_cntnt
Admin Title
D7 Paragraph: r17_faq / GPC_ID: 154228
Display
default
Layout
default-12

To the project

  1. Import ID
    r17_faq_item:1851157
    Admin Title
    D7 Paragraph: r17_faq_item / GPC_ID: 154229
    Display
    default
    Layout
    default-12

    What is »Spectral Haven« about?

    »Spectral Haven« is a training environment for the machine-based service industry: in infinitely generated scenarios, robot vacuum cleaners clean their way through virtual bathrooms, self-driving cars make their rounds through invented cities to eventually be safe enough for the real world – all controlled by AI... right? Where does the machine end when we have become one with it?

    In the second part of »Spectral Haven« you can become active yourself: We invite you to create your own virtual environment and create a new world from the remnants of various urban environments in a co-curation process.

  2. Import ID
    r17_faq_item:1851158
    Admin Title
    D7 Paragraph: r17_faq_item / GPC_ID: 154230
    Display
    default
    Layout
    default-12

    Background to the project

    The starting point of the VR experience »Spectral Haven« is the concept of »mind uploading« developed by Hans Moravec in his 1988 book »Mind Children«, which he hoped would not only lead to a new, hybrid life form whose intelligence would grow exponentially, but also to the overcoming of our physical shell and thus ultimately to digital immortality. Ray Kurzweil's book »The Singularity Is Near« adds a prediction to the thesis: in 2045, Kurzweil says, due to the rapidly accelerating development in all areas of progress, there will be a singularity, i.e. an event that will irreversibly change our world and after which artificial intelligence will far surpass human intelligence.

    His book »The Singularity is Nearer«, announced for June 2024, is therefore aptly titled: »When we Merge with AI«. Fittingly, author James Barrat describes AI, and in particular AGI – Artificial General Intelligence or strong AI – as the last invention that mankind will ever make.

    In »Spectral Haven«, we postulate that the »mind uploading« described by Moravec has actually worked, and that this process has also led to the Singularity. However, almost unnoticed – instead of causing the social disruption that futurologists like Ray Kurzweil predicted, all devices and services that were previously equipped with »weak AI« have now developed a metaphysical consciousness. Bad for us...

  3. Import ID
    r17_faq_item:1851159
    Admin Title
    D7 Paragraph: r17_faq_item / GPC_ID: 154231
    Display
    default
    Layout
    default-12

    The VRlab at ZKM Hertzlab

    The ZKM Hertzlab is the artistic research and development department at ZKM Karlsruhe. The investigation and critical questioning of immersive mechanisms and artificial worlds beyond the promises of salvation of large companies is one of its central tasks. To this end, it has set up a new laboratory: the VRlab is located on the 2nd floor between the ZKM Foyer and Atrium 8 and is also open to the public at certain times. With a traverse and tracking system and the latest VR and PCVR hardware, the 50 square meter room can comfortably accommodate a research team or two players. Research projects will primarily be realized here in cooperation with other institutions, artists and guests. »Spectral Haven« is the first project to be developed and shown in this lab.

Import ID
r17_box_section:1847178
Admin Title
D7 Paragraph: r17_box_section / GPC_ID: 154167
Layout
undefined
Import ID
r17_box_wrapper:1847177
Admin Title
D7 Paragraph: r17_box_wrapper / GPC_ID: 154168
Display
Section - Boxes - L3 (Borders)
Layout
Box
Import ID
r17_box_wrapper:1847177:gpc_content.field_gpc_cntnr_hd_rl_gpc_cntnt
Admin Title
D7 Paragraph: r17_box_wrapper / GPC_ID: 154169
Display
default
Layout
default-12

A project as part of the intelligent.museum

  1. Import ID
    r17_box_item:1847176
    Admin Title
    D7 Paragraph: r17_box_item / GPC_ID: 154170
    Display
    default
    Layout
    default-12

    »Spectral Haven« is a production within the framework of intelligent.museum. The project deals with questions about the museum of the future and how artificial intelligence is changing our relationship to knowledge and to each other in an institutional setting. It aims to encourage and empower museum visitors to engage critically with artificial intelligence (AI). The aim is to question current developments and explore the potential of using AI in museums. To what extent does AI allow us to break down barriers in the exhibition space and make the museum experience more inclusive? What can AI do? What can't it do? AI is being used more and more in everyday life. However, the underlying technology remains a black box for most people. This makes it difficult for society to engage with it and promotes its mystification, which we want to counteract with intelligent.museum.

Team

Partners

In cooperation with the Deutsche Museum Nürnberg, funded by the Programm Kultur Digital der Kulturstiftung des Bundes and supported by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media

  • In cooperation with

  • Funded in the program

  • Sponsored by

Footer

ZKM | Center for Art and Media

Lorenzstraße 19
76135 Karlsruhe

+49 (0) 721 - 8100 - 1200
info@zkm.de

Organization

Dialog