[Por]TrAIts: AI Characters + Their Microstories leverages the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence not just to generate images but to co-create a series of interconnected narratives that challenge our perceptions of authorship and creative output. The project also aims to initiate dialogues regarding the role of AI in the broader landscape of electronic literature and art. In the realm of the digital where the boundaries of artistry are continuously challenged and redefined, [Por]TrAIts attempts to capture the essence of Artificial Intelligence as a collaborative force.
The integration of AI into my artistic practice has been decades in the making. When invited by the OpenAI team [the innovators behind DALL-E and ChatGPT] to participate in their AI Artist Access Program, my decision to engage was instantaneous. This program presented an unparalleled opportunity to dive into the wonders of DALL-E2 in the era before Generative AI was considered mainstream: at that time, it was considered the cutting edge of AI-driven creative technology. My engagement with this program marked the beginning of a profound exploration into the potential of AI to co-create compelling visual narratives that are intricately paired with microstories written in the poetic code stylings of Mezangelle. [Por]TrAIts was conceived within this fertile collaborative environment, with its refinement occurring during my involvement in OpenAI’s Artist Assistance Endeavour. In [Por]TrAIts, the possibilities of employing AI in art and literature are explored, with the role of AI not positioned just as a tool of creation, but as a co-creator capable of influencing and shaping artistic vision.
[Por]TrAIts builds on the narrative and philosophical groundwork laid by my 1996 work, The MALFI Trials. In this previous exploration, Artificial Intelligence was probed for its capacity to emulate human emotional intelligence. The MALFI Trials questioned the boundaries of AI's role within humancentric contexts: the project interrogated the limitations and possibilities of AI within controlled environments, setting the stage for more nuanced and sophisticated engagements. [Por]TrAIts attempts to push such inquiries further by challenging the conventional boundaries between creator and creation via a reimagining of the collaborative process itself. The leap from The MALFI Trials to [Por]TrAIts involves a rethink of the AI's role: from a simulated entity within a narrative to a generative force capable of co-creating electronic literature projects.
[Por]TrAIts represents a synthesis of the lessons learned from The MALFI Trials, applying them to create a series of portraits and accompanying microstories that are imbued with deep narrative significance, weaving together the visual and textual to create a multidimensional exploration of identity, existence, and autonomy.
In creating [Por]TrAIts, the interplay of my artistic vision and AI's interpretative algorithms has been central. The process began with textual prompts that were specifically crafted to evoke specific themes and/or emotional tones. These prompts were fed into DALL-E2 [with snippets from the AI Image Generator Stable Diffusion also incorporated], which then generated the initial visual outputs. These outputs were not final products but rather starting points: raw digital tableaus that were further refined and contextualized through a variety of digital art techniques. The iterative process involved photobashing, digital painting and editing, and inpainting techniques that allowed me to mold and shape the AI's raw output [part of the process of how AI contributes to and complicates the artistic narrative(s)]. The resulting images are storied canvases that invite viewers to decode a complex interplay of human and machine authorship: the interaction between AI-generated elements and human artistic intervention exemplifies a new form where the boundary between creator and creation is fluid. The AI contributes not just in executing predefined tasks but in shaping the direction of the overall project [including the microstories themselves]. This is evident in the way certain images evolve past post-initial generation as human input reinterprets and reconfigures them, integrating layers of meaning that might not be achievable by AI or human alone.
Since 2022, [Por]TrAIts has been exhibited at various venues with each presentation further contextualizing and elevating the discourse surrounding the work. From the 2022 Future of Text Symposium to the Electronic Literature Organisation's 2023 Conference, the reception of [Por]TrAIts has been marked by thoughtful engagement. The 2022 Future of Text Symposium [known for exploring cutting-edge textual and spatial computing based artforms] provided an ideal setting to showcase the innovative use of AI-generated narratives. The reception here underscored the work's relevance in contemporary discussions involving the evolution and growing recognition of AI's potential as a fundamental part of the creative process rather than just a tool, capable of transforming how art is conceived, created, and consumed. Following this, the project was featured at the 2022 ADA Symposium in Whakatū/Nelson, where it was part of a broader discourse on indeterminate infrastructures in digital art. The symposium’s focus on the intersections of objects, signals, and architectures paralleled the thematic concerns of [Por]TrAIts, highlighting its exploration of the blurred lines between digital and physical identities.
Perhaps most notably, the work was included in the 2023 Electronic Literature Organisation's Conference in Portugal. Here, [Por]TrAIts was situated within the “Arborescent || Resistance” Exhibition, a fitting venue given the project's deep engagement with themes of social change and the ethical implications of AI. This exhibition not only broadened the work's exposure but also enriched the ongoing conversation about the role of electronic literature in addressing and reflecting societal challenges. [Por]TrAIts has also featured in the 2023 More Than Meets AI Exhibition at the University of Bergen, the 2023 International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling Exhibition in Japan, and will be featured in the upcoming 2024 International Digital Media and Art Association Conference in Minnesota. Each exhibition has provided feedback that has been invaluable. Academics, artists, and technologists have noted the project’s ability to challenge and expand the viewer's understanding of AI's role in art. This feedback has highlighted the dual nature of the work as both an artistic achievement and a provocateur, raising questions about the future of human and machine collaboration and the authorship [and ownership] of such works.
As we look to the future of human and AI symbiosis, the implications of projects like [Por]TrAIts extend beyond the confines of galleries and symposiums, [hopefully] challenging prevailing notions about the nature of creativity, the role of the artist, and the potential of Artificial Intelligence to act as a potential partner in the creative process. [Por]TrAIts demonstrates that the future of AI art may lie in these hybrid practices, where technology and human insight combine to create works that redefine artistic authorship, opening up new avenues for exploration and expression that were previously unimaginable. As AI continues to evolve, so too will its role in the arts, potentially leading to new forms of art that challenge our current understanding of aesthetics and creativity. This shift heralds a future where AI and human artists collaborate more seamlessly: perhaps even blurring the lines between who, or what, can be considered an artist, with the proviso that such advancements do provoke significant ethical and philosophical considerations. As AI becomes more integrated into the creative sectors, questions about originality, authenticity, and the essence of human expression in art continue to surface. These are not purely academic questions, but are vital for understanding the broader implications for ensuring that the evolution of art remains robust, inclusive and ethical. It is crucial to continue this exploration, fostering a dialogue that not only celebrates the capabilities of AI but also critically examines its societal role and creative [and cultural] impact.
has been creating an eclectic array of digital fiction books, VR and AI experiences, games, and experimental storytelling since the mid-1990s. Best known for developing the code poetry language Mezangelle, Mez’s genre-defying work often dodges neat categorization, continually challenging traditional aspects of the games, literature, arts, and spatial computing industries. Mez delights in playing with the elasticity of formats while infusing her work with critical social commentary, addressing the complexities of political and societal frameworks, the climate crisis, institutionalized power dynamics, and the fundamental importance of compassion and pedagogy.
In November 2019, Mez’s VR/3D Microstory Series ‘V[R]ignettes’ won the Queensland Literary Awards Digital Literature Prize, then the “…world’s richest digital literacy prize.” Other notable award-winning projects include the VR adventure ‘Perpetual Nomads’, the time-bending game ‘All the Delicate Duplicates’, and the AI book ‘Por]TrAIts: AI Characters + Their Microstories’.
Mez's influence extends beyond her creative works: she is a committed educator, theorist, archivist, and literary judge who actively promotes the advancement of digital literature and art. Her works are taught worldwide and are housed in collections including The World Bank, Cornell's Rose Goldsen Archive, and the National Library of Australia. To explore Mez's projects, please visit patreon.com/mezbreeze, mezbreeze.itch.io, and mezbreezedesign.com.