This project tackled the challenge of using AI uncertainty as a design material rather than a problem to solve. Instead of approaching AI from its strengths, I explored its weaknesses to uncover the character of this emerging technology. I investigated what works, what doesn't, and in what contexts AI uncertainty becomes valuable. The project spanned kitchen utensils, desk ornaments, and musical instruments, employing various AI models. I used image classifiers, generators, LLMs, and custom-trained systems. By treating uncertainty as raw material, I aimed to discover new design territories where unpredictability becomes a creative asset, shifting from waiting for perfect AI systems to actively engaging with their current limitations as generative forces.
Should we fix AI-imperfections, or learn to dance with them?
I created numerous objects and experiments across different fidelities, from sketches to functional prototypes. My methodology involved first locating uncertainty within AI systems, then pushing models to their limits to maximize unpredictable outputs. Some discoveries included temporal forgetting : where limited image-to-video generators lose information between iterations, creating evolving visual narratives, and uncertainty emerging during dimensional transitions (2D to 3D conversions). I deliberately fed models poor-quality inputs: blurry images, low resolution starting points, creating maximum gaps for AI to fill unpredictably. This resulted in objects like a calculator guitar that merged unexpected functionalities. The process resembled having a creative coworker who completely messes up your workspace, sometimes producing valuable insights, sometimes not. Through micro-experiments spanning multiple AI modalities, I mapped where uncertainty naturally occurs and developed techniques to amplify it as a generative design force.
This project embodies "Less Hope, More Action!" by treating AI as a present material rather than a future promise. Instead of waiting for perfect systems, I engaged directly with AI's current limitations as creative opportunities. Within "Digital Future," the work demonstrates how designers can actively shape emerging technologies through hands-on experimentation rather than passive adoption. The impact lies in revealing AI uncertainty as a legitimate design material that produces genuinely novel experiences and interactions. However, limitations include the unpredictable nature making consistent results challenging, and the approach requiring significant experimentation time. The project shows that by working with AI's imperfections rather than against them, designers can discover unexpected creative territories and develop new relationships with digital tools on their own terms.
