Relationship of AI
with Human Brain
A Speculative Design Study
Team Size: 3
We examine human relationships with AI through Design Fiction using a future scenario where AI uses decision making to control the functioning of the human brain according to user’s context and needs. Through this we critically examine control of AI on humans and the true meaning of user freedom with AI penetration in our lives.
DOMAIN
PURPOSE
FS
TECHNIQUES
DS
TECHNIQUES
AI guided Brain functioning
The Thing from the Future-
Transform: a generation (Arc), the Brain (Terrain), Product (Object), and Wonder (Mood)
Inspiration : ‘I don’t want to use my brain’
Urges us to question the control of AI on humans and the true meaning of user freedom with AI penetration in our lives.
Transforming the Future (Vision)
Creative Visualisation Method
Quick Start Guide
Storyboard
Filming
Our domain revolves around AI and brain functioning where AI guides brain functioning by switching on and off parts of the brain by using the context of users to help them achieve their goals
We used The Thing from the Future to generate our idea and ideated around Transform: a generation (Arc), the Brain (Terrain), Product (Object), and Wonder (Mood). These probes made us think of something we hear often- ‘I don’t want to use my brain’. The idea urges us to think of a future where human abilities are controlled by technology which is external to us. This way, we raise questions about the control of AI on humans and the true meaning of user freedom with AI penetration in our lives.
To plan our scenario, we used Transforming the Future to structure a vision for a preferred future scenario where to achieve their goals, humans did not need to use their brains. We asked questions about how humans would function and mimic the functionality of the brain in such a future? Using creative visualisation method, we asked how AI would interact with people, what its physicality would be, and how much control it would have over humans?
We used quick start guides, storyboards, and filming.
QUICK START GUIDE
STORYBOARD
FILMING
CRITICALITY
The criticality of the idea lies in proposing a change through our domain. We propose an alternative way of being for humans. At present, the human brain operates independently to control the functioning of humans. It is entirely functional and under our control when it operates. Through our idea, we suggest a future where humans no longer use and control their brains, going against something that is very natural to us. We propose a biosensing sticker-like AI interface to control our brain for us according to our context and goal. This way, we take the independence of the brain and provide AI the power to control its functioning, and switch off certain parts to achieve desired goals. The only action humans perform is to specify the end goal, and AI takes the decision of which parts of the brain should be functional to accomplish the goal. We hence propose a change through the functionality of our system.
REFLECTIONS & CONCLUSIONS
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We found the process to be rigorous. Multiple discussions went behind not only the idea, but also the prop and scenarios. It was particularly time consuming to decide the physicality of the prop and interactions in the future scenario.
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While developing the idea, we found The Thing from the Future quite useful as it nudged us to think in a particular direction. This was helpful since the theme of Human Relationships with AI Systems is very broad to explore.
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We found the filmmaking process particularly interesting and enjoyed applying various techniques that we learnt in class. It was surprising to find out the planning process was in fact much longer than the actual shooting.
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Through the process, we learnt to be patient with our idea, as it gradually developed, sometimes painstakingly slowly. Communication helped us a lot as we voiced our concerns and were able to tackle them early on in the process. Overall, it was an enriching experience for all of us.