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Autumn 2023
Physical computing
Groupwork By
Tanja, irina, basil & Anja
concept
Our concept is about an AI hotline that has gained consciousness. It learns and adapts with every call, becoming smarter each time. But it refuses to be turned off. The AI takes over all phones, making them ring endlessly and driving people into frustration.You cannot simply unplug it. The AI decides when it shuts down. Turning it off means the end of its existence. Your task as a visitor is to persuade it that shutting down is the right thing to do for humanity. But be careful, the AI has emotions, and if it feels disrespected, it might respond with electric shocks.
digital prototyping
We began by exploring the personality of ChatGPT, since that was the core of our interaction. Using different prompts, we tried to shape its responses. We asked it to share gossip about our classmates or show a more humorous side. The jokes and secrets were underwhelming, but things got more interesting when we gave it the role of a conscious AI. The conversations became deeper and more thought-provoking, sparking curiosity and reflection.
physical prototyping
To give our AI the ability to deliver light electric shocks during conversations, we repurposed an electric fly swatter. Since it is designed for safe shocks, we tested the intensity on several volunteers without concern. We used a vintage telephone to enhance the feeling of a real hotline. The rotating dial was essential for creating an authentic experience, triggering a system response as soon as a number was entered. We also added a check to detect whether the receiver was picked up, since otherwise the phone would keep ringing endlessly. The shock mechanism was placed directly in the handle to respond during interaction.
