Imagining AI Futures through Literature: Reading & Experiences by Stephanie Ponce

The Xenogenesis/Lilith's Brood Trilogy

sojedaponce — 2024-04-26 00:20:27 UTC

"Lilith Iyapo is in the Andes, mourning the death of her family, when war destroys Earth. Centuries later, she is resurrected — by miraculously powerful unearthly beings, the Oankali. Driven by an irresistible need to heal others, the Oankali are rescuing our dying planet by merging genetically with mankind. But Lilith and all humanity must now share the world with uncanny, unimaginably alien creatures: their own children. This is their story."

Book series: Dawn, Adulthood Rites, Imago

Remote Control, "Sunrise," and more...

sojedaponce — 2024-04-26 00:20:27 UTC

Nnedi Okorafor is an Award-winning African Futurism and African Jujuism author of the short story "Sunrise" and many other books and stories.

The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer

sojedaponce — 2024-04-26 00:20:27 UTC

Inspired by her own music album, Monáe explores themes of identity, technology, and society in a future where humanity and AI strive for co-existence.*

"Cyber-proletarian" by Claudia Salazar-Jimenez

sojedaponce — 2024-04-26 00:20:28 UTC

"Cyber-proletarian" is a short story about an AI robot that destroys her creator and develops a plan to pass as human and develop a fertility treatment as a method of changing human reproductive nature.

Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction: MoPoP

sojedaponce — 2024-05-20 17:03:41 UTC

The Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle has a permanent exhibit displaying science fiction pop culture artifacts such as the noisy cricket from Men in Black. I took the picture above that the 2019 Ruth E. Carter Afrofuturism in Costume Design exhibit at MoPop. The exhibit points out ways pop culture and science influence each other.

AFROFUTURISM: A History of Black Futures

sojedaponce — 2024-05-20 17:13:31 UTC

This is a virtual and in-museum exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute. I love that they include lots of pop culture icons and show how artists like Parliament Funkadelic contribute to building hope, community, and knowledge.

QueerSpace Podcast: We’re All Stories In The End

sojedaponce — 2024-05-20 19:31:19 UTC

Queer Space is a podcast series supported by the Smithsonian Institute Podcast. Anchors Erin Barker (StoryCollider) and Sofia Soto-Sugar (Airospace Museum) interview Hannah Oliver Depp of Loyalty Books about queer themes in science fiction.

Battlestar Galactica (2004+)

sojedaponce — 2024-05-20 19:46:21 UTC

According to the SYFY network, the show is "Considered by many to be one of the best television series ever made, Battlestar Galactica picks up just as Cylons - intelligent robots designed by humankind - commit mass genocide against humanity. Only Battlestar Galactica, the last of the Colonial Fleet, survives the attack. Driven by prophetic visions and political necessity, the Galactica travels through uncharted space in hopes of finding the mythical, lost 13th colony – Earth."

Her (2013) - Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams

sojedaponce — 2024-05-20 19:49:29 UTC

"He decides to purchase the new OS1, which is advertised as the world's first artificially intelligent operating system, "It's not just an operating system, it's a consciousness," the ad states. Theodore quickly finds himself drawn in with Samantha, the voice behind his OS1. As they start spending time together they grow closer and closer and eventually find themselves in love. Having fallen in love with his OS, Theodore finds himself dealing with feelings of both great joy and doubt. As an OS, Samantha has powerful intelligence that she uses to help Theodore in ways others hadn't, but how does she help him deal with his inner conflict of being in love with an OS?" - Bob Philbot, IMDB

I, Robot (2004)

sojedaponce — 2024-05-20 19:56:00 UTC

The official synopsis of I, Robot is "In 2035, a technophobic cop investigates a crime that may have been perpetrated by a robot, which leads to a larger threat to humanity"

Ethical & Existential Questions

sojedaponce — 2024-05-21 14:57:52 UTC

What ethical considerations does AI themed art (literature, shows, movies, paintings, etc.) prompt us to think about?

Highline LibGuide

sojedaponce — 2024-05-21 15:08:44 UTC

Check out Highline Library ChatGPT & AI Library Guide! There are general resources and specific recommendations for students and teachers. It's mostly non-fiction.

What's next?, MortyBot?

sojedaponce — 2024-05-21 15:21:18 UTC

Based on history, what are are humans most likely to mainly use AI for?

sojedaponce — 2024-05-21 15:24:06 UTC

What planet and people problems could AI help solve?

Battlestar Galactica

sojedaponce — 2024-05-21 15:37:45 UTC

Battlestar Galactica is a series that originally aired in 1978 and was remade in 2004 (with Edward James Olmos!). In this series, the robot Cylons that take control of Earth are undistinguishable from humans.

"Pre-Simulation Consultation XF007867" (2022) by Kim Fu

2024-05-21 17:37:49 UTC

"Pre-Simulation Consultation XF007867" is a short story from author Kim Fu. Published in 2022's Lesser Known Monsters, this story features a world where characters can experience vivid dream simulations to experiences fantasies far from reality. As one reviewer writes, this story "opens up real questions about corporate ethics and companies’ responsibility for the addictive nature of their technologies" (ZYZZYVA).

"What is life?" Periko the Artist

2024-05-21 19:51:44 UTC

Painter Gerardo Peña, aka @perikotheartist, prompts us to question our perception.

I am Mother

2024-05-21 19:52:57 UTC

"Following humanity's mass extinction, a teen raised alone by a maternal droid finds her entire world shaken when she encounters another human" (Netflix).

Event Playlist on Apple Music

sojedaponce — 2024-05-21 20:02:38 UTC

I created this Apple Music playlist to accompany our event.

AI Generated Music

sojedaponce — 2024-05-21 20:50:07 UTC

Artists are using AI for collaboration, remixes, immitating celebrity features, and more. There are even popular artists that are created by producers, songwriters, and other music techs using AI.

Scary Funny?

sojedaponce — 2026-02-12 02:15:57 UTC

I really like how the characters in this movie. Even though the data center coming to the town isn't one of the main points, it sets off a series of (violent) events.