28 September 2026
The Observatory of AI in the Arts and Media (ObsIA) at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, in collaboration with YUFE, launches the seminar series “Ecologies of AI in the Arts and Media: Criticalities, Materialities, Creativities”. The series is part of the preparation of the European project MAICCI (Master in Artificial Intelligence and Cultural & Creative Industries).
AI is often portrayed as an immaterial entity dwelling in the cloud. Drawing on Félix Guattari’s “three ecologies”, the seminar looks at AI as a physical infrastructure (data centres, rare-earth extraction, energy consumption), as a force that reshapes social relations, and as a producer of subjectivities. Topics range from the ecological footprint of data centres and labour in the Global South to the biases of generative AI, the transformation of creative professions, and artistic and activist practices that explore alternative uses of technology.
Sessions take place on the first Wednesday of every month, from October 2026 to June 2027, from 17:00 to 19:30 (Paris time). Each session brings two researchers into dialogue around a shared question, across philosophy, law, media studies and artistic practice. The seminar is hybrid: in person in room A608 at the Campus Nation of Université Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris), and online.
The first session, on Wednesday 7 October 2026, features Peter Verhezen (Antwerp Management School) with “Will AI make creative artists redundant in the near future? A critical reflection” and Antonio Somaini (Université Sorbonne Nouvelle) with “Generative AI and the Algorithmic Past”. On 4 November, the seminar continues with Christian Katzenbach (University of Bremen) and Bruno Lefebvre (inIdEx ICCA).
The seminar is open to researchers, students, professionals and anyone interested. The full programme and all information on how to attend in person or online are available on the ObsIA website:
