Creative AI Methods Wednesday, 17 September, 1pm - 5pm (NLG.1, Samuel Alexander Building). session lead: dr sam hind

Overview

This methods@manchester staff training session is for any University of Manchester members of staff who are interested in:

• Researching artificial intelligence (AI) from cultural, social, political or environmental perspectives
• Using AI tools and techniques for studying other social, cultural, political or environmental phenomena.

What are creative AI methods?

‘Creative AI methods’ are a suite of experimental techniques and approaches that make use of AI tools and platforms. Creative AI methods are a relatively new phenomenon, borne out of the exponential rise of generative AI platforms (ChatGPT, Google Gemini etc.) in recent years. However, they can be understood as a specific iteration of creative methods used across the social sciences and humanities, that utilize narrative, visual, cartographic, sensing, and performative approaches. In this case, creative AI methods can also be seen as a form of ‘critical technical practice’, a term coined by tech scholar Phil Agre in the late 1990s to refer to a kind of practical, critical engagement with digital technologies – a term subsequently taken up by many media and tech scholars and digital artists.

Creative AI methods, thus, are an attempt to engage practically, critically, and inventively with (and against!) the plethora of generative AI tools, platforms and services that are now widely available to the general public and researchers. This ‘creativity’ can be understood as a necessary feature of such work, precisely because of the ‘black-box’ nature of these AI systems – rarely knowable directly and fully. As such, there is a growing interest in, and need to, develop creative ways to use, understand, and – sometimes! – break them. Naturally, then, creative AI methods involve operating at the more experimental, provisional end of the methodological continuum.

What to expect during the session

1. A general introduction to creative AI methods (1 hour)
2. A walkthrough three specific creative AI methods: critical prompting, synthetic images and system anatomies (1 hour)
3. Mini group workshop on one chosen creative AI method (1.5 hours)
4. Final discussion on creative AI methods, uses, applicability (0.5 hours)

Who should attend the session?

• Researchers wanting to experiment with novel techniques for studying AI and related technologies
• Researchers seeking to compliment their study of social and cultural phenomena using more novel digital tools and techniques
• Researchers interested in studying the rise of generative AI and related technologies

While the focus of this session is on the use of AI in research, the session will also benefit those educators wanting to incorporate more creative digital methods into their teaching activities.

Are there any requirements for the session?

• You will need to bring a laptop
• You will need a Google account or ChatGPT account (or account for any generative AI platform)
• There is no previous technical experience necessary
• No software needs to be downloaded prior to the session

This session is specifically designed for University of Manchester staff training. If you are not a UoM member of staff please contact methods@manchester and we may be able to advise you about other opportunities/resources.