Intelligent Environments and Public Art

As they become smaller and more affordable, sensors, actuators, and computers are increasingly being embedded into our built environment. Recent advances in deep learning allow systems to understand real-time video, audio, and text that was previously opaque to computational analysis. Simultaneously, the accessibility of custom architectural-scale LED displays and the availability of cheap robotics are allowing for new forms of computational output. Using these and related technologies, we are beginning to see the creation of architectural spaces that see, hear, think, and act. While public art has always had the power to shape how individuals relate to their environs, a new generation of artificially intelligent public art encourages people to engage with both their surroundings and each other through situated experiences and embodied interactions.