During this workshop, students had the opportunity to learn about AI image generation. The workshop was split into three parts: the basics, human and machine vision, and co-creation and authorship.

The first part of the workshop consisted of theory about AI image generation tools. It served to engage the students and pick up on some insights and discussion points of their last tutorial, such as experience of slop in image creation, hallucinations and metabolic aesthetics.

The second task was a hands-on exercise using an AI image generator. Students had to sketch or draw a simple personal memory, object/person, emotion, or abstract concept. Then, translating their sketch into a concise, descriptive prompt for Microsoft Designer. After doing so, the students were asked to compare human and AI interpretation. Asking questions such as: what does AI capture or erase? What aesthetics can you make out? How does prompting differ from ‘anologue’ ways of expressing creativity?

As the last part of the workshop, students took the AI-generated images and remixed them manually to express their own interpretation by adding or altering elements through collage, drawing, or other media. As a reflective exercise, the students were asked to consider several questions about authorship: who owns final image? What are the characteristics of AI aesthetics and creativity, and how do they change with our intervention? What happens to human agency in the process?