Artificial Christmas Spirit

 One of the most significant developments this year was the explosion of A.I. technology. We can't even imagine the possibilities that will be presenting themselves in the coming years.

It's the holiday season, and my son is 3 plus it's my baby daughter's first Christmas, so it's a lot of fun (& very exhausting). 

To celebrate this holiday of the human spirit, here are some Christmas creations, by a machine!...

-Images: Stable Diffusion AI Software
-Prompts & Curating: Paul Micarelli

"amanita mushroom dressed as santa claus"

 

"elf skank"

"robot dressed as santa claus in a futuristic space sleigh"

 

*Check out A LOT more A.I. madness on my social media pages:

Instagram:

@ac_artificial_creativity

Facebook:

@AC.Artificial.Creativity

AC: Artificial Creativity

 

"zen monkey looks into the cosmos"

-Images: Stable Diffusion AI Software
-Prompts & Curating: Paul Micarelli

I have been tinkering with A.I. generated art, using Stable Diffusion software. I am simultaneously amazed & disturbed by the novel imagery that computers are now able to create. As an artist & graphic designer, the A.I. phenomenon makes me feel like a carriage maker at the onset of automobile manufacturing.

The software I'm using is relatively basic, but it can still produce really cool art (as well as hilariously bad formulations). I actually give the software top billing on my posts, because all I'm doing is entering prompts. Yes it's a tool just like Photoshop, but the computer & code creating the imagery is almost spooky and makes you examine the nature of consciousness itself. What we understand to be consciousness or mind is an emergent cascade of phenomena, as is machine learning. However, the ability to explain the system doesn't make it any less mysterious.

The endless amounts of objectively fantastic artwork flooding social media now is just mind-boggling. Just like the Internet itself, there is no way to understand exactly where this technology is going to take society.

I have started social media pages for the A.I. art that I'm collaborating with the machines to produce. If you're reading this, I would greatly appreciate it if you check them out & follow:

Instagram:

@ac_artificial_creativity

Facebook:

@AC.Artificial.Creativity

There are so many questions & issues that arise from this technology...

• What does it mean for the human artist & creator?

• Will A.I. art be required to be detected & distinguished from human art, in certain circumstances? Or will that prove impossible, and proof of process will be required to verify human-made art if desired.

• Are we entering a "post-reality" reality, where we trust absolutely nothing, and objective truth no longer exists in the digital realm?

...It's all so crazy... what the hell is happening? We'll just have to buckle in & find out!

Here are some articles I've read recently about the topic as I try to wrap my head around it all:

My Modern Met:

Art Trend of 2022:
How AI Art Emerged and Polarized the Art World

Wired:

What AI-Generated Art
Really Means for Human Creativity

These are some of the images I've prompted that have really blown me away, but there's so much more to come:

 

"a futuristic organically inspired city with greenery and sleek rounded architecture"

-Images: Stable Diffusion AI Software
-Prompts & Curating: Paul Micarelli

 

 "jim morrison as a da vinci painting"

-Images: Stable Diffusion AI Software
-Prompts & Curating: Paul Micarelli

 

"robot in a float tank"

-Images: Stable Diffusion AI Software
-Prompts & Curating: Paul Micarelli

 

"scene in your mind when you die" 3

-Images: Stable Diffusion AI Software
-Prompts & Curating: Paul Micarelli

 

"the face of god"

-Images: Stable Diffusion AI Software
-Prompts & Curating: Paul Micarelli

A.I. Literature

 Being a creative professional, I feel (& hope) that my graphic design skills aren't replaceable by computer algorithm in the near future. 

The Monkey Buddha Archives:
A.I. Logo Design

However, I see the various ways that artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to for creative applications and know that it is only a matter of time before there is serious competition from computer-driven solutions to literary and artistic endeavors.

Writing & literature is one area where A.I. is making noticeable progression. I came across this article that was composed using OpenAI language generator, in which a prompt is given & the computer creates text. In this case, the prompt was "Focus on why humans have nothing to fear from AI".

The Guardian:
A robot wrote this entire article. Are you scared yet, human?

 

After seeing this article, I then saw this website called Shortly, in which you start a story or essay and the A.I. generates more content.

www.shortlyread.com

I started a story about my son Paul Giuseppe, & the website produced a coherent and interesting continuation of the text. 

It was pretty amazing, actually, and offers a glimpse at the creative power that machine learning will contribute to culture. (I was about to write "..contribute to human culture", but I don't think culture is solely a product of the human mind anymore...)

Spider-Man vs. Amazon Box Robot Dance-Off!

In addition to being a graphic designer, I also own a side business called Fantasy Photos - that specializes in custom photo portraits, & The Fantasy Photo Booth for events.

www.FantasyPhotos.net

This past weekend, Fantasy Photos was at the Pitman NJ Autumn Fest, in the Total Turf Experience, for a 2-day weekend event.

During the costume contest, one of the actors in a Spider-Man outfit got into a dance-off competition with a kid in a creative robot costume, made of Amazon boxes!

 
I thought it was hysterical and had to record some video of it!

Here's another video of the event, including the Fantasy Photos booth and my lovely wife & partner Loretta:

The Fantasy Photos booth:

 Me (Paul) & my wife Loretta at the event:

Mall Knockoff Toys

The other night, my fiancée & went Christmas shopping at the Hamilton Mall in NJ. It's the first time I've been in a mall in... I don't even know how long!

Although the mall wasn't empty, there didn't seem like there was a lot of shoppers for the holiday season. It's evidence of the impact online shopping has had on brick-and-mortar stores, and malls, in particular.

Anyway, I was in one store, called Unique Gifts or something, with all kinds of useless crap to buy. I walked buy the toy racks and was pulled in against my will by the hilarious selection of cheap knockoff toys from China & other east Asian countries.

I have a soft spot for knockoffs & bootleg toys, mostly because of the ridiculous "Engrish" and horrible graphic design. I've had many years of experience designing toys, games, & their packaging- so it's amusing how bad some of the products & graphics on the packages can be.

Here are some of my favorites, I had to get photos of the funniest ones:

 

This was the first one that caught my eye: 

"Super Dino Force", Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles combined with Jurassic Park dinosaurs.

 

 This one cracked me up- "Street Fighter: Man Wrestle"

Featuring Super MAN!

 

Low-budget Justice League: "Super Justice Force". 

The only weapon they need is the katana blade.

 

"Ultimate Fighter Hero" complete with Luchador mask, and ladder, chainsaw, & spiked bat accessories for ultra-violent play!

 

 "Universal Hero"

A ninja Capt. America ripoff with Wolverine Claws

  

No, this is not a Transformer, it is a "Universal Super Change Robot"!

 

Finally, an archery set with a knife & Native American stereotype thrown in for good measure.

Roko the Robo-Monkey

I can't resist posting about any story that combines technology & primates.

Recently I saw this article about Roko, a concept for a biomimetic robot that would simulate the movement of a chimpanzee swinging through the trees. The concept was designed by Kaan Yaylali, and is a unique take on the form & function of robots.

Daily Mail:

Meet Roko, 

the ROBOMONKEY That Could Save Your Life

Roko is meant to be a sort of rescue or delivery robot, that can reach areas that would be difficult to access in other ways. It could travel through thick jungle or other remote areas to reach people who need rescue or supplies.

Although it looks like a Monkey Terminator, autonomous machines like Roko could perform many useful tasks that could be of great help to humanity.

Tiny Robot Buddhist Monk

Buddhism, at its essence, is more of a philosophy of mind than a religion, as most Western cultures understand the term. Although certain sects worship deities & believe in a Pure Land, the historical Buddha simply taught people how to awaken their consciousness and cultivate awareness.

Because of this philosophical trend, as opposed to religious dogmatism the Abrahamic religions, Buddhism has been uniquely open to scientific inquiry. The Dalai Lama has fostered extensive conversations about the mind, quantum physics, and other scientific disciplines.

Scientific American:

Neuroscientists and the Dalai Lama 

Swap Insights on Meditation

This embrace of science & technology has manifested in the playful, yet functional, development of a little robotic monk, named "Xian’er", by the Longquan temple in China.

I saw this linked on fUSION Anomalog and thought it was interesting development in the approach to studying spiritual matters.

Smithsonian:

A Robot Monk Is Spreading Buddhist Teachings in China

Xian'er can answer simple questions about Buddhist ideas, chant mantras, & move around via voice commands.

The merging of spirituality and technology is one of those things that seem paradoxical- but only if your perspective is still immersed in the duality that Buddhism & meditative practice seeks to dissolve.

Meet Xian’er: Robot monk spreads Buddhist wisdom in China

See also:

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

Robot Buddha

NASA's RoboSimian

It's a new year, and I thought I'd post about the future- specifically futuristic monkey-like robots.

I've had this article filed away, that talks about a robot designed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab.

 Gizmodo:

Robosimian: NASA’s New Monkey Robot 

Designed for Search & Rescue

The RoboSimian can shift between a wheeled configuration and a mode using four appendages that resemble a cross between monkey limbs and a tentacled creature like an octopus.

Here is a video of it in action. It is a pretty ingenious and interesting design:

Although many of the DARPA robots were humanoid & bipidal. However, there's no reason robots need to look like humans, or any other known creature.

Robot Buddha

I saw this interesting clip from the movie "Doomsday Book". The story is referred to in the film as 'Heavenly Creature'. In the movie, an A.I. is depicted that is recognized as an enlightened being- a 'robot buddha'.

It raises ponderous questions about the nature of mind. How we would be able to know if an artificial intelligence or even a non-human intelligence were able to experience consciousness? Would an A.I. be able to attain "enlightenment" and provide spiritual insight to people?

Robot Buddha

Hilarious Knock-off Toys

I've posted many times about horrible graphics & poor product design. Absurd items with crappy artwork always amuse me.

Recently I saw this gallery which had a nice collection of truly awful & funny items:

Imgur

43 Hilarious Chinese Knock-off Toys

There are a couple that I've posted about before.

 

 Specialman

  

"Sense of Right Alliance" Action Figures   

Here some other ridiculous items I've shared here:

 God*Jesus Robot

 Galaxy Cop

 Adventure Man

Horrible Knockoff Transfomer Toy Design

Despite being a graphic artist who takes pride in creating pleasing designs, I also have a great love for really, really bad design, which never stops amusing me.

I saw this abomination on The Chive, in a post about bad toy knockoffs. It looks like it's supposed to be a Transformer-style toy, but the colors and packaging are hilariously crappy.

The name says, in Mexican/Italian colors, "Knight Rider Becames Robert" instead of what I believe should be, "Knight Rider Becomes Robot". This, along with the crazy overall neon color scheme and primitive graphics, makes for a memorably bad example of graphic design.

After a little research and reading comments on other blog posts, it seems to be a ripoff of Super Gobots Zeemon.

Chimp Knocks Down A Drone

 
This is a video of something that never stops amusing me - apes & monkeys doing crazy things.

It's from a Dutch zoo, where a surveillance drone was filming while flying over the chimpanzee enclosure.

As the remote-controlled drone glides over taking video footage, one of the chimps up in a tree smacks it with a branch. It's enough to knock the drone out of the sky. Some chimps then proceed to pick up the flying robot & look into the camera of this strange object.

It almost seems as if there's a deep, metaphorical meaning to this seemingly simple action...

Perhaps it can be seen as a symbolic of the struggle in modern culture- between primitivism & advanced technology.

Maybe it's a reminder at how ineffective our technology can be, in the face of the overwhelming power of nature.

Perhaps it's a "cosmic giggle," related to Terence McKenna's theories about the evolutionary transition from apes to technology-using humans. It's also relevant to his idea of the archaic revival, or the reversion to ancient tribal values & more 'primitive' modes of existence...

Mostly, I think it's just chimps being funny.

Chimpanzees Down a Drone and Film Each Other

A.I. & The Future of Machines

I've been reading & seeing a lot of insights into the possible consequences of the continuing progression of digital technology.

There is a spectrum of opinion on the subject- ranging from optimists who think robots & artificial intelligence will be a great help to human beings, to pessimists who envision Terminator-like doomsday scenarios of robot domination. There are also people (like me) in the gray area, who think there could be both good & bad results of A.I., depending on how the technology is developed & used.

Although I've been seeing thoughts about this topic from different sources, this article (below) that I originally saw on Reddit is a long, but deeply thought-provoking article. I would highly recommend reading the entire article or bookmarking the page.

It explores the many possibilities presented by artificial intelligence and advanced machines, and correctly concludes that there will be changes and effects that we cannot even conceive at this time.
It's a similar situation to how nobody could fully predict the profound effects that the development of the Internet would have on communications and creativity.

Wait But Why:

The AI Revolution: 

Our Immortality or Extinction

Although I would say that article is a must-read, Newsweek also published a shorter piece about the same topic that's easier to digest.

Newsweek:

Should We Be Afraid of Robots?

I also just watched a TED talk the other night about the advances in machine learning, that is equally fascinating and frightening.

In the absence of some global catastrophe that destroys humanity & our technological achievements, I think there is no end to the progression of robots and machine intelligence.

Once zero-point energy & quantum computation are harnessed, it will be an entirely new world of possibilities, both positive and negative.

Like media and stories dealing with the subject of "man vs. machine", such as Mass Effect & The Matrix, I believe that the way forward is synthesis. 

 

"Digital Self-Portrait" by Paul Micarelli

We must consciously integrate digital technology and robotics into our physical being, for the purpose of augmenting our bodies & minds. We may evolve into a new hybrid creature of unimaginable abilities, but this is the way of the Universe.

As the great philosopher Heraclitus stated, "Nothing is permanent, except change."

Who knows?
Maybe with human help one day robots & machines will even learn to love...

Super-Legit Totally Not Bootleg Toys

I'm continuing the theme of ridiculous product packaging. As a graphic artist, seeing horrible design is a guilty pleasure of mine.

Here's a gallery of pathetic attempts to knock-off popular toys, from The Soup:

Super-Legit Totally Not Bootleg Toys

A couple of my favorites-

Galaxy Cop

 

Adventure Man

God • Jesus Robot

Robot & Skeleton

I saw this on FFFFOUND!.

Our current biological skeletal frame seems to be faced with our possible future self- where our consciousness will be housed in a cybernetic exoskeleton...

"ED-209 vs. Boba Fett" by Paul Micarelli

This is a very early 3D creation that I made in 2002.

Since it's Star Wars Day, I figured this would be a good one to add to my album:

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

3-D Art by Paul Micarelli

 After finding mesh models of these characters, I decided to make a scene of the ED-209 robot, from Robocop, battling the notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett, from Star Wars.

"ED-209 vs. Boba Fett"

From 3D Art by Paul Micarelli

Baby Robot

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

.... The Robots are spawning!!!

This video is one of those things that's endlessly creepy & fascinating at the same time.

Naturally, humans are going to concentrate on making robotic beings that they can identify with in form & function. Although robotic creations could be any shape or size, it's inevitable that people will make images of themselves.

This means sophisticated humanoid robots will mimic human methods of learning & information gathering. The youngest of my nephews is just starting to smile and look directly at people. Current robots are like that early stage of human development- seemingly thoughtless entities that are dependent on other beings, but still assimilating & processing large amounts of data.

We are living in a strange time.

Watson- A.I. Jeopardy Champ?

Jeopardy! is one of my all-time favorite shows.

My Uncle Dave was on the show in the 80s & I would like to play one day, when I feel I've crammed sufficient knowledge into my skull. Right now, the main categories that make me cringe in ignorance are things like opera, Shakespeare, Broadway (basically, theater in general), and geography can be tough. Some categories pop up that are totally bizarre, too. Even in categories that aren't my strong suite, though, I can usually manage to get a question or two correct.

Unfortunately, human brain-based general knowledge abilities are on the verge of becoming obsolete. The Machines are now taking over trivia game shows, as they are doing with the rest of human civilization:

IBM.com: Watson

I was watching an episode of Nova last nite about the development of Watson. In trial rounds, the computer was crushing the humans. The episode, explaining how the computer & it's software worked, pretty much blew my mind.

PBS NOVA:
Smartest Machine on Earth

Tonight, I was watching Watson win the 2nd Jeopardy! game vs. a couple of human champs... by tens of thousands of points!

NYT:
Watson Dominates ‘Jeopardy’
but Stumbles Over Geography

I thought "This is ridiculous, this system is obviously far superior to humans." I didn't realize that in the 1st game last nite, human Brad Rutter tied the computer! So... it is possible to beat that infernal creation (maybe)!

Digital 'intelligence' of this caliber is simply amazing, and will create unimaginable new applications. However, there is something to be said for the element of personality to define a being. Despite this bewildering technology, intelligence & knowledge are only a part of the countless phenomena that make up consciousness. That is what makes George Lucas's droid duo in Star Wars so appealing- they each have a personality.

Being able to formulate Jeopardy! answers is a quantum leap, but it's still nothing more than a machine that synthesizes data. When computers or robots are able to engage in small talk or make me laugh out loud, like an episode of South Park or Stephen Colbert, then I'll be impressed. Such advancements are possible, but I think it's a much harder bridge to cross than Watson's function- strictly compiling & analyzing factual knowledge. So, there!

>:P

Here is a graphic I made tonite after watching humans stand in defeat next to a video screen that serves as the facade for a massive computer system. I felt the need to depict the coming Robocalypse™- led by the superior intellect of Watson itself.

click to enlarge

A stupid robot couldn't make something like cool like this.

Google Developing Self-Driving Cars

Not to be sound like a jerk, but this kind of tech should have already been developed by now...

NYT:
"Google Cars Drive Themselves, in Traffic"

I've envisioned the implications of this for awhile, because it's inevitable that one day you will be able to relax on a car ride- like you were riding in the back of a limo. Cars will eventually be designed as lounge spaces instead of operated machinery. You will be able to get in the car & read, talk on the phone, browse the Web, eat, sleep, whatever- as the car drives itself to your destination.

I'd imagine manual controls would be there as backup, but most driving will be routinely automated. The most valuable lesson my Dad taught me when I was learning to drive was "remember everyone else on the road is an a-hole ." Having barely defied death & injury behind the wheel a dozen times, robot cars with precision navigation systems would seem like a positive development. Hopefully, though, there will still be some kind of niche for people who make their living as truckers & cab drivers if robo-cars becomes the norm.

Then... flying cars!
(or as my little nephew says, "car-ships")

"Sex Robot" on Discovery

The other night I was hanging out having a couple beers with some friends & watching TV. As I was flipping through the TV guide a show called "Sex Robots" caught the eye of one of my friends.

"Red Hot Robots"

Out of amused curiosity I turned it on, & it was like a horrible train wreck that I had to keep watching. I could NOT believe what I was seeing. Basically these people, who I began calling "Robo-pervs," (*see below for update) actually prefer the companionship of robots that look like women to the real thing.

As any biologically-inclined human could probably guess, it was pretty unsettling.

The documentary was about people who are dreaming of the day when fully interactive & lifelike robots are made for the sole purpose of simulated intercourse. It's amazing that the instinctual sex drive in humans is so controlling that it can override our biological imperative to make some people pursue a path like this.

Proving there is a niche for everyone in this crazy world, the program showed people trying build a sex robot, and also followed guys who wanted to own these Fembots. They gave feedback to the builders on how to improve the appearance and performance of the robots. To me, all the robots looked creepy and almost frightening, and their jerky movements & lifeless interactions only enhanced the creepiness factor.

Here is one of the robots & its creator, w/ an appropriately ridiculous headline:

"Roxxxy Sex Robot
Also a Great Conversationalist"

At one point in the documentary two humanoid robots were shown "humping" each other, & they were basically just banging their plastic heads together. I started laughing hysterically at the sheer absurdity of it.

There was another guy who was on the computer looking at pictures of female robots with their face & chest removed, exposing circuitry underneath. This was the guy's idea of porn & it makes absolutely no sense at all. The closest I can find to the photos that he was oogling over was this:


Another robot fetishist actually had a girlfriend (who was also kind of dorky, but not hideously ugly or anything). She agreed to go along with being hypnotized into becoming a robot to make her boyfriend happy. He was asking her to repeat "Prime Directives" & she responded about "being obedient & pleasing" her boyfriend, who was visibly encouraged by this. It was definitely creepy to me.

Some of these souls seem to have serious issues with control, which makes them desire a life-like being that obeys their whims.

I was watching this show almost the entire time with my jaw dropped open or wincing at the awkwardness of some of the situations. My brain simply could not process the madness I was seeing. However, to each his own... right?

*Update 9/27:
Someone commented on this post appropriately mocking me for being an insensitive jerk in my tone. They have a point in the sense that I wasn't practicing kind speech. I really don't wish ill on anyone & think people should be able to do whatever the hell they want, without fear of persecution. As long as you're not hurting anyone, go nuts!

Truth be told- I think 'alternative' lifestyle choices like robots, virtual experiences, & other things we aren't able to imagine yet will only become more commonplace as technology becomes more sophisticated. However, to me personally it's still a mind-boggling phenomenon, as are other things - like people being willing to swim with Great White sharks. Neither seems like sensible behavior to me, but I'm not going to tell people they can't do it.

So sorry if it seems harsh, but as a human being I'm trying to avoid the Robot Sexpocalypse™ that could wipe out our species forever if this behavior continues.

I am only human, after all.