Artists Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst are challenging long-held assumptions about artificial intelligence in art with their new immersive choral exhibition, The Call, at the Serpentine Gallery in London. Through this innovative installation, the Berlin-based duo invites audiences to rethink A.I. not as a threat but as a powerful tool for creativity and collaboration.

A Haunting Blend of Tradition and Technology

As you step into the Serpentine’s darkened gallery, a grand organ-like structure commands attention. Its gilded panels and harmonious choral sounds evoke a timeless, almost sacred atmosphere. However, this is no ordinary organ—it is infused with state-of-the-art GPUs powering an A.I.-driven performance. This juxtaposition of the historical and the futuristic lies at the heart of The Call, challenging fears that A.I. will undermine artistic integrity.

Since the advent of text-to-image generators like DALL-E, A.I. has sparked controversy in the art world. Critics argue that A.I.-generated art diminishes the value of human creativity and unfairly uses copyrighted material as training data. Herndon and Dryhurst, however, are pushing back against these fears. Instead, they see A.I. as an opportunity for innovation and a fresh approach to artistic collaboration.

Rewriting the Role of A.I. in Art

Herndon and Dryhurst have spent years advocating for ethical and participatory use of A.I. in art. In 2022, they launched tools like HaveIBeenTrained.com, empowering artists to protect their intellectual property from unauthorised use by tech companies. Their broader mission is to encourage a shift in perspective—viewing A.I. as a collaborative partner rather than a competitor.

Their approach is exemplified in The Call. Over months of research, the artists collected data from regional choirs across the UK, creating a unique dataset to train their custom A.I. model. Unlike generic, publicly available systems like MidJourney or ChatGPT, their model incorporates a combination of public-domain data and bespoke datasets provided by participants. This ensures that the creative process remains transparent and consensual.

The Choral Metaphor for A.I.

Herndon explains the inspiration behind their use of choirs: “The choir is a perfect metaphor for A.I. It represents collective coordination—a technology humans have used for centuries. Choirs embody the balance between individuality and collaboration, a concept mirrored in A.I.”

This ethos extends to their music. By blending their archival compositions with the choir’s performances, the artists produced a unique form of polyphony that defies traditional compositional norms.

A New Framework for Intellectual Property

The issue of intellectual property (I.P.) remains contentious in the context of A.I. Herndon and Dryhurst are vocal advocates for change. They propose a public-domain model where creators can retain agency over their data while allowing others to build upon it fairly. Dryhurst elaborates:

“The public domain offers infinite potential. It allows artworks to evolve and adapt over time, fostering creativity without infringing on individual rights.”

Their tools and models aim to set a precedent, empowering artists to maintain authorship while embracing A.I.’s capabilities.

The Future of Art in an A.I.-Driven World

Herndon and Dryhurst argue that adapting to A.I. is not optional but essential. Dryhurst is unequivocal:

“This is bigger than the internet. Artists can reject A.I. entirely, but they do so within a world increasingly shaped by it. Art is resilient and will evolve, but ignoring A.I.’s impact is a missed opportunity.”

For Herndon, the potential of A.I. lies in fostering collaboration:

“I dream of people coming together to create beautiful datasets, paving the way for a utopian vision of collective creativity.”

A Call to Action

The Call is a bold reminder that A.I. is not an alien force but an extension of human ingenuity. It challenges viewers to see A.I. as a collaborator, not a competitor, and to imagine a future where art, technology, and humanity coexist in harmony.

Exhibition Details:
Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst: The Call is on view at the Serpentine North Gallery, London, until 2 February 2025.

Explore more about the intersection of A.I. and art in A.I. and the Art Market by Jo Lawson-Tancred, available for pre-order now.