Description

Algorithms are becoming increasingly adept at perceiving and interpreting humans. In a wide variety of industries, decisions that directly affect us as individuals are made on the basis of datasets and their statistical patterns. At the same time, algorithms reinforce prejudices because they work with fixed categories and the preconceptions of their developers. The interactive installation “Komprimat” reveals how AI realigns and compresses our perception of identity. The viewer is first captured by the installation and then compressed in a process across three different levels. The front level is realistic, the middle level is abstract, and the back level no longer shows any human features. The viewer is then stored in the system with their compressed version. By visualising algorithmic compression on the body of the user, Komprimat makes the loss of identity tangible and encourages critical reflection on how artificial intelligence shapes our understanding of who we are.