AHK AI Research Group
The AHK AI Research Group, made up of researchers from the Netherlands Film Academy, the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, the Academy of Architecture and IDLab, enables artist-researchers and teachers to question, experiment and explore what AI means for art and art education.
Why?
AI is here and it's here to stay. The effects of its rapid evolution can already be felt not only across the way we make art and how we learn, but also in our ways of knowing too. So what should educational institutions do about it? How should students, researchers and teachers work with AI tools such as Chat GPT or Generative AI? How will it shape education? To meet this shifting landscape with ethical and sustainable responses, it is crucial that we cultivate a critical and interdisciplinary mode of interacting with AI.
The Research Process
We decided the best way to start the process, answer these questions, and perhaps raise a few more along the way, was to take stock of how it's already being used – right here in the busy Academies of the AHK. Instigated by the head of our department Mieke Bernink and Erik Lint of IDlab, and supported by AHK’s AIR programme, THINGS TO DO WITH AI used a bottom-up approach to create an inspiring inventory and discursive event that investigates the different ways in which AI is being used across disciplines.
The event involved a lecture followed by short presentations from students and teachers from each of the six academies at the AHK exploring examples of how AI is used and understood in their departments. The floor opened up to questions followed by a series of roundtable discussions around themes of creation, teaching, trust and dreams/doom.
Responding to the strong level of interest and interesting content raised by this event, our head of department Mieke Bernink and Michiel Schuijer Lector/Professor of the Conservatorium, with support from the TCP, set to work founding a dedicated AI Research Group who could work on the ever-evolving questions raised by AI over a more-sustained period.
How does it work?
The AI Research Group brings together researchers that span the realms of film, architecture, music and theatre/dance to work on their AI-related projects. Facilitating both individual work and moments of collective exchange, dialogue and sharing with a broader, public audience, we aim to stimulate new responses to AI through practice-based research and share it.
What is it?
Five ongoing research projects that question, explore and experiment with AI have been developed within the AHK AI Research Group. On 4 March 2025, participating researchers presented their initial findings at the event MORE THINGS TO DO WITH AI, held at IDlab to those interested from the AHK community. After an introduction, the following projects were presented, then the floor opened up to a dialogue with the audience.
Who is it by?
The research projects that make up the AI Research Group include:
- AI: One Person’s Utopia is Another Person’s Dystopia by Miga Bär & Marijn Eken (Netherlands Film Academy)
- How to Teach a Chair to Sit by Simone C. Niquille/technoflesh Studio (Academy of Architecture)
- A Rhythm Model for Live Music Improvisation by Atser Damsma (Conservatorium van Amsterdam)
- Thinking, Feeling, and Writing with Language Models by Pablo Núñez Palma (Netherlands Film Academy)
- Real-time AI on stage by Willem Weemhoff (Academy of Theatre and Dance)
Who is it for?
The AI Research Group provides opportunities to artist-researchers and teachers within the AHK to explore the ever-evolving technologies of AI, stimulating a critical approach through its academies. Sharing the research-in-progress invites the wider communities of students, artists, educators, and researchers to learn about AI but also get involved in the dialogue too.
- Year
2025