In September last year, I received an inviting proposal from Bruno Ceschel: to set up an installation at his cultural space, SPBH Space in Milan, during Design Week. The possibility excited me and I accepted without thinking twice. The only request from bruno was the possibility of exploring the use of artificial intelligence.
At that time, I was just starting to get interested in robots, as AI, while fascinating, seemed particularly intriguing when integrated into physical objects as well as digital applications... I was interested but I didn't really have time to put my head into it.
This interest in robots motivated me to make the most of this opportunity, thus prompting me to look for institutions that could provide the necessary equipment for the installation and thus not miss this opportunity.
I asked around about the possibility of borrowing some robots but to no avail. Buying a robotic dog or a mechanical arm was a significant investment, too expensive for the exhibition's budget.
After other unsuccessful attempts, I approached Thibault Brevet and Andrea Anner (AATB), from a studio in Zurich that I greatly admire and which works mainly with robots, to ask about the rental cost of a robotic arm. During a brief chat, the possibility and interest in collaborating on this project emerged. And I love collaborating!
Ask AATB for help was definitely the right choice. We immediately hit it off and started developing ideas for the project. Although our practices were very different, our shared experience in design, art and programming made the exchange of ideas particularly interesting and fluid.
After several discussions, we formulated an idea that everyone was enthusiastic about and that was feasible within the available timeframe and skills. We decided to create a work that would explore the use of AI and robotics in warfare contexts: a robotic arm armed with a water gun and equipped with artificial intelligence. The idea of making something meaningful and not just a robot that does robotics was a challenge. A robot that recognises you, holds a gun and potentially shoots is a powerful concept. We were excited (Indeed I still am!).
The installation was set up in a shop window of the SPBH space, located on a busy street. The robot, placed inside, continuously observes the outside environment and, in a completely harmless manner, points and 'shoots' at passers-by. This simply highlights how accessible such devices are and how accurate they really are. Without AATB's contribution, all this would have taken much longer or even been impossible. The inauguration was a success and to experience that day in Milan, with so many people and 27 degrees, was truly legendary!
Without wishing to dwell too long, anyone interested in learning more will be pleased to share further details.