Process Blog

[kaimaccreates]

Midterm Project: Misdirection - Art as a Job

[kaimaccreates]

iComedy

This assignment was a fun one. The fruits of my labor are here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JA-rdzBiSOU

Here’s a bit on how I got around it.

For the longest time I was drawing a blank on what technology exactly I wanted to focus on, but I did know I wanted my medium to be in Zepeto. I used to be obsessed with this app a few years back, doing all the daily rewards to get cute clothes for my little avatar. Reopening the app I was pleasantly surprised with the updates, one of which included more body types. I revamped my Zepeto to look more like I do now and that was when it clicked. I was focusing a little too hard on perfecting her style, to get this model to appear exactly like myself, and I knew I had to do a little video on what my mom told me about internet safety.

The way I disobey her all the time to fulfill whatever needs I had online was funny enough alone until I caught myself, older now, dead set on creating something that looks so much like me while so totally different, and having that thing be indicative of me and treated as if I am the model I made.

The picture above shows just how in depth and nitty gritty you can actually get into the details of the model. I spent far too long perfecting the way the model’s face looked so that it matched my own as closely as possible.

Here’s the script I made for myself before I started filming:

My mom always told me to be careful on the internet.

Of course I didn’t listen. I was using my Kindle Fire HD to scroll on every social media under the sun, talking to strangers and telling them my name and age.

I wasn’t very smart about a decade ago.

I feel like I’ve grown from that, though. I no longer use my real name online, no one knows how old I am, and despite how easy apps like Snapchat can dox me, I’ve flown under the radar pretty well.

But I still spent two hours making this Zepeto model look like me.

It felt almost crucial that this little cartoon face had the same shape of chin, eyes, lips, and even nose. Every part of this model was customizable and I suddenly understood my dad when he made his Bitmoji. I glared myself down in the mirror, no curve when untouched.

It just makes me wonder at what point did I decide my face wasn’t too personal to reveal online. My phone has made it entirely too easy to be vain by allowing me to take photos en masse and post them seven times over after sending every single one of them to all my group chats so my friends can tell me which ones they like best.

My phone is the biggest curse bestowed upon me. With it I’ve inflated my ego beyond it’s bounds and allowed strange people online to comment on me. I do wish I would have listened to my mom about the internet, but then who would I have to tell me I’m pretty?

Not shown is a video where I made faces using the Zepeto app to see just how far I could move the model and just how accurate it is. I was happy with the results and it was a lot of fun to watch a toonified version of myself talk like me.

[kaimaccreates]

VRL #4

Artificial Intelligence Can Now Craft Original Jokes—And That’s No Laughing Matter

As I was reading the article, I found myself really thinking about how AIs learning humor and how to tell jokes and be funny could change not only the world of social robots and humor but also other aspects such as service and medical fields. Human is such a great first step into creating something more to ease people, but I can’t see this being something easy to implement once perfected. The uncanny valley and biases would be hindrances to AI development. I know I would feel weary if a very mechanical AI helped me make personal decisions or consoled me in a therapy session, and vice versa, an android made to look human but either not human enough or the knowledge they are an AI would also cause me to feel uncomfortable. But it’s still so exciting to think about in the long run. Imagining adults who might have grown up with AI helpers and peers who have no prior bias to the way AIs “should” behave and act.

I also wanted to make a comment on humor from AIs in the first place. I am worried AIs might use their roboticness as a crutch in humor. Things can be funny depending on who they are coming from, and a robot telling a joke, at least in today’s times, is funny due to humans knowing that humor is not something most AIs understand well enough. The regurgitation of jokes is what is humorous. However, with this AI that can respond to an audience and make adjustments as necessary, there will be a progression of increasingly more “human” AIs and humor will become something harder for an AI to articulate. Not to say the jokes based around their existence won’t be funny anymore. It’s interesting to think about how AIs will be view in the future. If made human enough, would they gain rights? WIll they make jokes about this? Change is constantly upon us, and I hope to see more AI comedians soon.

[kaimaccreates]

MICROASSIGNMENT 02: Absurdity

When the elevator arrives sometimes it takes a while to open its door and let me in. Sometimes, before that can even occur, the elevator won't arrive, or worse, the button doesn't call it to my floor. I only live on the fifth floor of an apartment building, with my car on the first and the street on the second. It doesn't take much more time for me to descend the stairs as the elevator that sometimes doesn't come takes its sweet time moving between floors. Yet I still find myself staring at the unpolished and filthy metal door for it to finally let me inside the twice as dirty elevator interior.

It's so slow that I do take the stairs after waiting half a minute, but on days it opens itself to me, I step inside and can press the number of the floor I wish to go to. From here the elevator does one of two things. It either shuts its door and takes me to where I want to go, or it shuts its doors with an uneasy slowness as if taking its time only after staying open entirely too long, unbothered. Immediately after it shuts, it opens with such swiftness and I leave with the same energy, now too afraid the elevator will trap me inside.

When the elevator does agree with me and begins its vertical movement, I sometimes find myself in the predicament of waiting for the doors to release me. The longer I stand there in the silent box and staring at the shoe buffed door, the more unrest builds inside me so I'm running out of the elevator the moment it opens. The uncertainty of the elevator, its behavior, reliability, cleanliness, and time management and effectiveness, continues to have a wide range from okay to abysmal.

I still ride it.

Somehow my disdain for activity and the stairs has me willing to get stuck in an old, crusty elevator two years overdue for inspection. If I were sane, I would not risk that elevator and its creaking and rumbling container. I would not let myself stare blankly at the door while it refuses to open spiraling with thoughts of survival if they were to not open ever. Who would I call first? Could I actually press the help buttons in the elevator? Do they work? Is this really worth it so I don't have to climb stairs? Yes, somedays. Most days, maybe. Even after believing I would get stuck and being wrong, I still tell my mom "I haven't gotten stuck yet," and it's the yet that I'm waiting for.

[kaimaccreates]

Viewings, readings and listening (VRL) #3

Can Robots Be Funny?

I found the video interesting alongside its title as it’s in relation to a topic of conversation I frequently have with my roommates. Robots and AIs are not human, and giving them the most human emotion of humor is such a great way to humanize them and give them personality. It tows a line between a “soul” and an imitation of one. Robots and especially AIs are created to learn, but to have such emotions and feelings takes them closer to what we might think are androids or human lookalikes. Humor is genuinely a perfect way to create the illusion of life in a machine and take the next step in social robotics.

However, an important part of humor is not only finding things that are funny, but knowing why they’re funny. This includes knowing the fine lines and having the ability to read the vibe of the room. Unsure if we could ever get robots to that level, but maybe some day? He could even be more human than us.