Immersing in the World of AI-infused Theatre
Perched upon a seat at the renowned Lincoln Center, an air of anticipation pervaded the room as the audience eagerly waited for the curtains to rise on Ayad Akhtar’s McNeal. The show featured Hollywood heartthrob Robert Downey Jr. and the supporting role was played by an AI, ChatGPT. Such a sight provoked a flurry of thoughts about how playwrights have been examining AI's implications for over a century now.
In fact, the concept of Robots—an integral part of the AI world—was first introduced by Czech playwright Karel Čapek in his play R.U.R.—Rossum’s Universal Robots way back in 1920. This was decades before the Dartmouth conference coined the term 'artificial intelligence' and before Alan Turing proposed his test. Provokingly, Čapek's play showed an android uprising exterminating humanity, leaving only a solitary survivor.
The same conceptual musings about AI are depicted in plays premiering this winter in New York City, including a low-key production dubbed Doomers, inspired by real-life AI events.
AI and Theatre aspiring to redefine Zeitgeist
Riding on the trend, Matthew Gasda, a playwright and screenwriter, showcases his obsession with the epoch in Doomers. His prior works such as Dimes Square and Zoomers paint vivid pictures of downtown hipsters and Gen-Z Brooklynites respectively. Intrigued by the OpenAI incident, Gasda decided to navigate his script to gravitate around the controversies that stem from AI.
The play enlightens the audience on the tumultuous journey of Sam Altman being dismissed from the board of OpenAI, only to be reinstated amidst employee backlash. The play oscillates between the pressure to maintain ethics in AI and the bitterness that such turmoils bring, showcasing the duality that accompanies AI innovations.
Doomers and McNeal—An Insight
While Doomers revolves around the trials and tribulations associated with AI, it fails to provide any foolproof solution. Gasda admits this, acknowledging his intention to show characters evading the repercussions of their AI creations; hence the name: Doomers.
On the other hand, Akhtar’s McNeal showcases a renowned author's struggle with AI's allure and its impact on his work and his life. The experimentations with AI assisted the Pulitzer winner, Akhtar, to conjure up an emotional rollercoaster of a play.
The AI Conundrum through Different Lenses
Gasda, despite relying heavily on AI assistance for his creations, expresses concerns about AI's potential to impinge upon the creative process, thereby reducing human contribution. He also stresses upon the need for playwrights to protect their originality from AI-driven plagiarism.
Contrarily, Akhtar seems at ease with AI’s assistance, even letting AI have the final say in his plays. He believes in the human essence of theatre that will always be of quintessential essence, even as virtuality engulfs our world.
This culmination of human imagination and AI’s intelligence is what enjoys the limelight as the audience leaves the Lincoln Center, spellbound by experience, marking a significant chapter in the intersection of technology and art.
", "excerpt": "The article unfolds the tale of how playwrights are exploring the implications of AI in their creations, with a specific focus on the plays Doomers and McNeal. It delves into the intricacy of AI's impact on arts and how it is reshaping theatre.", "slug": "intersection-of-theatre-and-artificial-intelligence" } slug { "title": "The Unseen Impacts of AI on Theatre: A Tale of Two Productions", "content": "AI: The Unexpected Protagonist on Broadway
In the heart of Lincoln Center, an aura of anticipation lingers. Everyone is waiting for the opening of 'McNeal', a theatrical sensation featuring star actor Robert Downey Jr. and also introducing an unorthodox fellow performer - an artificial intelligence (AI) software called ChatGPT. This performance evokes thoughts about how AI has been a subject of intrigue in the theatrical world for decades. It is fascinating to recount that back in 1920, before even the birth of the field of AI, Czech playwright Karel Čapek's play R.U.R. - Rossum's Universal Robots, marked the first-ever introduction of the term 'robot'. Čapek illustrated a story of an android uprising annihilating humanity, making him probably the initial harbinger of the potential dangers of AI.
A Lens into AI Through Theatre
Adding to the winter theatre line-up in New York City was another performance, called 'Doomers', offering a theatrical twist to the infamous clash within the walls of OpenAI. While both productions lack the glitter and glamour of big Broadway productions, they address significant matters impacting our society. Both performances delve into the influence of AI on the human creative process.
Doomers: Reflecting on AI and the Power Play
'Doomers' is conceived by playwright and screenwriter Matthew Gasda, known for his attuned sense of the cultural pulse. His portrayal of the internal turmoil within OpenAI has a distinct Shakespearean flavor. The narrative zigzags between two worlds – one where the character mirroring Sam Altman resides, and the other where the board members realize their flawed moves. Despite the power games, Gasda confesses, that the characters in his play fail to offer a clear resolution to the dilemma. He hints at a darker element where the fictional AI character manipulates the human roles, leaving the audiences to decide for themselves.
McNeal: A Glimpse of AI's Intrusion into Art
'McNeal', despite its commercial setting and starry cast, doesn’t shy away from the critical debate around AI's influence over creativity. Jacob McNeal, portrayed by Downey, is a troubled novelist who sells his soul for the hypnotic charm of AI. This feature brings to surface the fears of creators who worry about AI becoming a threat to their craft. This concern is voiced by Gasda, who confesses his apprehension about his work being stolen by AI.
Curtain Call: A Reflection on AI's role
As the lights dim and the play concludes, we are left contemplating whether the machines have indeed advanced to a point where they can replicate a human's creativeness. This thought-provoking sentiment underlines that theatre, with its human essence, will continue to be an irreplaceable form of art. As the curtains close, one can't help but appreciate the potency of live performance, demonstrating the unique power of human connection.
Final Bow: The Intersection of Art and AI
Upon the comparison of AI and theatre, we are driven to recall a comment by Marc Andreessen, a renowned AI relic, who considers this intriguing intersection as an opportunity to observe the real-time impacts of AI on human creativity. This leaves us with a question to mull over - Are we prepared for the reverberations of this ongoing dialogue between AI and human consciousness?
