F(r)ictions: Creative Work in an Age of AI
Friday
May 1, 2026
9:30 AM–3:30 PM
The New School
63 5th Ave
University Center
Hoerle Lecture Hall
Room L105
New York, NY
Sponsored by The New School's Office of University Initiatives
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 those 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 future 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 that 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 share a stake in governing the future of AI and creative labor.
Symposium Schedule
9:30 AM
Welcome
Zed Adams, Sareeta Amrute, and Andrew Shea
9:45–11:00 AM
Panel 1: Stories from the Front Lines
Focusing on stories from workers and representatives. Speakers include:
- Stephanie Jenkins, Archival Producers Alliance
- Aldo Juraidini, American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
- Umair Kain, Author’s Guild
- Sara Ziff, Model Alliance
- Rachel Robbins, Tangible Mind (Moderator)
11:00–11:30 AM
Bio break, with tea, coffee, and snacks
11:10 AM–12:45 PM
Panel 2: Legal Rights and Collective Bargaining
Focusing on legal issues, including thinking beyond copyright, labor organizing, whistleblowing, and policy interventions to address building power for designers and creative workers. Speakers include:
- Alexandra Mateescu, Data & Society
- Isaro Carter, The Carter Firm
- Linda Powell, SAG-AFTRA
- Andrew Foglia, U.S. Copyright Office
- David Bering-Porter, The New School (Moderator)
12:45–1:45 PM
Lunch
1:45–3:00 PM
Panel 3: Alternative Models: the Small, the Specific, and from the Majority
Focusing on small and specific language models and alternative approaches that ask, what does ethical AI look like in practice, and what are the limits to ethics-based frameworks? Speakers include:
- Ari Melenciano, Afrotectopia
- Sam Heckle, The New School
- Taeyoon Choi, Wayne State University
3:00–3:30 PM
Final Reflections
Selected Works
We investigate how AI transforms the conditions, politics, and value of creative work.
