NEWLY FORGOTTEN TECHNOLOGIES
Wesley Goatley (2023 )
What is AI made of?
In this cautionary tale from an undefined near-future, dozens of discarded and abandoned smart speakers lie in an e-waste dump, telling stories about how and why they were thrown away. These stories describe possible futures where technological, social and cultural events change our relationship to AI and 'smart' technologies - some are futures we might want, and some we should try to avoid.
Newly Forgotten Technologies invites you to explore the overlooked or unseen aspects of 'smart' devices, such as their environmental impacts, the hidden human labour behind their development and maintenance, and the privacy exploits built into their design.
Wesley Goatley is a sound artist and researcher based in London, UK. His critical practice examines the aesthetics and politics of data, machine learning, and voice recognition technologies and the power they have in shaping the world and our understanding of it. He has given talks on these subjects at international events such as Milan Design Week, Global Art Forum Singapore, CTM Festival Berlin, and the European Data Forum in Eindhoven. His work is exhibited and performed internationally, including venues such as Eyebeam in New York, Berghain in Berlin, The Nam June Paik Art Center in Seoul, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Website