F(r)ictions:
Creative Work in an Age of AI

Friday, May 1, from 9–4:30 PM
The University Center, The New School

Creative industries are experiencing one of the most dramatic transitions in recent history. Generative AI systems are now able to produce advertising campaigns, fashion images, and written works at a fraction of the time, at the cost of human labor, and without the contributions of people who are most affected by the technology. Some of these transformations are being adjudicated in the courts; voices from these communities should be heard in these debates. 

These shifts raise urgent questions: What does it mean to be a creative worker today? What is an author now that machines mimic writing style? When a fashion model’s likeness is used to train AI without consent, who owns that work? How can filmmakers prevent AI-generated content from mixing into archival materials without distinction? How can creative professionals sustain a livelihood as automation expands? How do we empower different creative communities to see parallels between how their disciplines are affected by AI, and contribute to shaping AI's development?

This day-long convening brings together practitioners, legal scholars, social scientists, and students to investigate the present and futures of creative work in an age of AI. We aim to bring together disparate conversations from the domains of design and fashion, film and philosophy, creative writing and critical thought to create a platform from which to agitate for a future creative workers want to see when it comes to emerging, powerful technologies. Our ambition is to build toward a regional, NYC-based network of creative workers and scholars who have shared stakes in the stakes in governing the future of AI and creative labor.

The Lab for AI, Ethics,  & Creative Labor is centered on AI’s impact on creative practices, fields, & futures

Sareeta Amrute
sareeta@newschool.edu

Andrew Shea
andrewshea@newschool.edu