The Wizard of AI (2023) Single Channel HD Video Essay, 19m 19s, subtitled.
The Wizard of AI (2023) Single Channel HD Video Essay, 19m 19s, subtitled.
Is this the world’s first AI-produced documentary? The Wizard of AI is a 20 minute video essay about generative AI, produced one year after the release of Midjourney v4. Treating this particular release in November ‘22 as an historic moment in visual cultures and creative economies, the essay focusses on the real impacts this technology continues to have on artists and designers around the world. The video itself was produced using generative AI tools, and is 99% comprised of images and videos created with Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Runway and Pika. Yet the artist is careful not to give in to the ‘wonderpanic’ brought about by generative AI, using generative AI tools themselves to discuss and critique the legal, aesthetic and ethical problems engendered by AI-automated platforms.
Commissioned by: Data as Culture at the ODI. Visit their Wizard of AI page here.
Credits:
- Written, directed, voiced, animated and soundtracked by Alan Warburton.
- Back to The Futch animation by Ewan Jones Morris.
- Special thanks to Joanne McNeil, Tom Pounder, Hannah Redler-Hawes and Omar.
- Wonderpanic Theme by Sonny Baker.
- Research Assistance from Fabian Mosele.
- Steve Ballmer Genie by Christian Schlaeffer.
- Pretty fishes by UglyStupidHonest
- In Memoriam images by Alex Czetwertynski