AI Greenhouse: Cultivating Responsible Engagement with AI in Filmmaking
AI Greenhouse: Cultivating Responsible Engagement with AI in Filmmaking
The recent proliferation of Artificial Intelligence across creative sectors, including filmmaking, immersive media production and cultural heritage, is undeniable. At this turning point in history, the AI Greenhouse aims to create a shared language for critically examining the impact of AI on film, the creative industries and archives across artistic experimentation, practical inquiry and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Why the AI Greenhouse?
How can we engage with AI in critical, ethical, and sustainable ways? AI-enabled technologies are entering every stage of media production, promising to make our work faster, more cost-effective, and less skill-dependent. Yet every aspect of this paradigm shift presents a whole set of creative, ethical, environmental, pedagogical and societal concerns – that urgently need addressing.
How does AI impact the cognitive processes involved in filmmaking? What are the potential biases it reproduces and how will it erode human artistic agency? How can we tackle its high energy consumption and find sustainable alternatives? Will AI oversimplify complex cultural narratives when dealing with heritage? How can we teach AI to students in a way that doesn’t reduce critical thinking, creativity and human interaction?
The Research Process
There is a huge knowledge gap when it comes to understanding how AI can enhance rather than diminish human creativity. We believe that artistic dialogue could be a rich way to investigate the new ways of knowing that AI offers and forge alternative paths forward. With support from the Dutch Research Council (NWO), we have designed a research programme that will use artistic exploration to create a set of strategies, practices and recommendations and contribute to the ethical, sustainable and community-driven integration of AI in filmmaking.
How does it work?
Enacted by artist-researchers Nadia Piet and Pablo Núñez Palma, the two year project will enable them to develop a series of artistic research initiatives organised in collaboration with AIxDESIGN. The structure takes its inspiration from the model of the Greenhouse: a space that evokes the ethos of care, self-growth, renewal and sustainability. We aim to create a collaborative, interdisciplinary ecosystem where ideas flourish naturally, emphasising the nurturing and cyclical aspects of innovation. Some of the themes we are looking to respond through AI Greenhouse programme of activities are:
- Responsible Integration of AI in Filmmaking
- Cultural Preservation through AI
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Public Engagement and Education
- Sustainable AI Practices
What is it?
Between spring 2025 and 2027, Nadia and Pablo will work on their research whilst also engaging a diverse community of students and professionals in some of their public-facing initiatives, powered by the questions above. From this activity will emerge the AI Almanac: a comprehensive set of recommendations, tools, best practices, exercises and pedagogical guidelines for the ethical and creative use of AI in filmmaking. The AI Almanac will be compiled and refined through four AI Sandbox events. Each of these two-day events will feature a public lecture and a community discussion, followed by a focused workshop to develop practical outcomes. The project will culminate in the AI Sandbox Festival.
Who is it for?
Collaboration is crucial to the structure of the AI Greenhouse which opens its doors to a broad spectrum of researchers, filmmakers, visual artists, and technologists to experiment under the guidance of Nadia and Pablo. With the aim of creating a practical toolkit for filmmakers, the activity of participants will become a valuable resource for the wider filmmaking community. The outcomes of this play will also feed into the wider public sphere.
Who is involved?
Pablo Núñez Palma is a media artist, documentary filmmaker and scholar. His work explores the interconnection between memory, body and territory through experimental media practice and radical pedagogies. He is considered one of the foremost exponents of web and interactive documentary in Mexico and Latin America.
Nadia Piet is a designer, researcher, and organizer with a focus on AI/ML, data, tech, (digital) culture and creativity. Fascinated with how we shape technology, and technology shapes us in return, her work centers around these topics while centering participatory, protopian, and feminist approaches. She is also the founder of AIxDESIGN – a community of practitioners using AI in pursuit of joy and justice.
The project belongs to a wider research consortium called AI2 – ARTISTIC INQUIRY X ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE which includes SLOW AI (Visual Methodologies, HvA) and Archival Landscapes of AI (Informatics Institute & Media Studies, UvA), in collaboration with our societal partners AIxDESIGN, Beeld en Geluid, and Eye Filmmuseum.
- Year
2025