Refik Anadol launches world’s first open source AI model dedicated to nature

Refik Anadolu, known for his installations that combine art and technology, unveiled a new work created using an artificial intelligence model he created at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The title of the installation on display at Davos is Living Archive: Nature (2024) and is the first installation of early experimental results based on large-scale natural models. His studio, made up of employees from 10 countries and speaking at least 15 languages, took less than a year to complete. This is the second time he has exhibited his work at a gathering of business executives and world leaders discussing global issues. His work last year was Artificial reality: coral used approximately 100 million coral images as raw data to raise awareness about climate change.

Anadolu, 39, spoke to Artnet News via Zoom from the sidelines of the ongoing world summit in Davos, using his AI model and the custom-built software he uses to control it from a tablet. A new installation created by the artist was unveiled for the first time. Some surprises are revealed along the way.

Although there are models such as AlphaFold that can determine the shape of proteins, the news release notes that large-scale language models similar to those used in OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other platforms are “the world’s first nature-specific Open Source Generated AI Models”. Hyena DNA trained on biological organisms and the human genome. But Anadolu revealed via Zoom that his large-scale nature model is the first to focus on “literal physical environmental nature.” He said his team could not find evidence that other models focused on nature and ecology still exist.

The Large Nature Model was developed for DATALAND, Refik Anadol Studio’s future museum and Web3 platform dedicated to data visualization and AI art. Anadolu teased that the museum plans to announce its actual location in March.

The model is based on data from National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution, Cornell Research Institute, the Natural History Museum, London, and the Conservation Research Foundation Museum, as well as data that his team personally collected in locations around the world, including deep in the Amazon. Trained on data. rainforest. In his studio, he used LiDAR, photogrammetry, and captured ambisonic audio and high-resolution visuals of diverse ecosystems for his models.

“We have always combined science and technology,” Anadolu said of his work with the facility. “But now we’re literally working with scientists to make art.”

The visuals produced by the models range from stunning realism to fantastical landscapes that would be the envy of Hollywood. In our conversation, Anadolu showed what the Amazon rainforest would look like if you crossed it with a more temperate forest. “We learn from nature by experimenting,” he said.

He said his art studio has received an “incredibly positive response” from the scientific community and will share details of the project’s development and open source model, which will be made available to the public for free.

“Even the best AI models at the moment still don’t fully understand nature. If you ask them what kind of birds we have, they won’t be accurate,” Anadolu said. . “We want to take this research to a level where it’s meaningful and purposeful and really safe and scientifically secure.”

CornellLab’s dataset includes the calls of 250,000 birds from the Amazon, and Anadolu was impressed by it.in Living Archive: Nature“We can hear their voices and interact with them.” The work shows that data is being used in real time, and data on weather and environmental conditions from forests around the world is shown to be used in real time. Data can also be captured in real time, giving his studio full control over the generated environment.

His team also collaborated with Geneva perfume maker Firmenich to create 12 scents to accompany the creations. The scent adapts to what is displayed on screen and reaches the viewer’s nose through a device worn around the neck. For example, you might notice the smell of the forest before and after it starts raining.

As a “last surprise”, Anadolu brought out an “AI character” named Fiona who can answer questions about nature. When asked if humans could create new species with her help, Fiona answered: “Humans do indeed create new species through breeding and genetic engineering, including developing crops that are resistant to pests and diseases. But we need to act carefully to maintain ecological balance.”

Anadolu added that he also feels a responsibility not to cause further damage to the environment through the development of AI. These technologies are known to require vast amounts of computing power, consume incredible amounts of energy, and require the mining of precious metals for their components. Therefore, the artist said that his studio also receives support from Google and Nvidia.

“We don’t want to harm nature when we make nature models,” Anadolu said. “We collaborated with engineers at Google so we can accurately see the significant impact our models have on the environment when they run, and are now able to use only renewable energy when training our AI models. We can do this very sustainably, and it is possible.”

Anadolu also proudly showcased NFTs in his collection “Wids of Yawanawa” (2023). A collection of 1,000 unique data paintings It “utilizes weather data such as wind speed, gusts, wind direction, and temperature from tribal villages in the Amazon rainforest.” This data will be combined with his 13 works by young “Yawanawa” artists. He promoted the initiative, saying members of the Amazon tribe will also be attending Davos and that they are “now recognized as world leaders.”

“They told us the name of a bird called Chanaken, which lives in the Amazon and is known for imitating the sounds of other birds. And they discovered a connection between AI and nature,” Anadolu told of a time he spent with a tribal member who served as an advisor. “Hearing this moment and being able to be one of those models is a very special moment.”

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