Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Seattle Based The Feast Theatre Company Casts ChatGPT in Latest Production
www.broadwayworld.com: The Feast theater company is set to stage Elmer Rice’s 1923 play The Adding Machine in a new production titled The Adding Machine: A Cyborg Morality Play. The show began performances on September 12th, at The Lee Center for the Arts on Seattle University’s campus. Performances run through October 6th, 2024.
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I like the idea of ai, but don’t like its implementation. I think there are a lot of repetitive jobs that can and should be taken over by new technology. Working in dangerous occupations or in locations with loud noises, danger from heat, sparks, heavy machinery, etc. can save lives or long term adverse health effects. I think the failure of most new technology is that it either doesn't target what is most beneficial for people or society because of greed. The efficiency bonuses of workplace changes from technology like the Henry Ford assembly line does not transfer to the people that are doing the work. Efficiency goes up, production goes up, revenue goes up, but the worker’s salaries go down. This is half of my problem with ai in theatre. The implementation of ai has already been seen to try to use ai to replace writers for scripts. I think I should try and take over non creative tasks and should stay away from creative tasks. I do think the use in this show as more of a commentary on ai is useful.
My initial reaction to this just based on the headline was concern and disappointment, because I assumed this meant that a theatre company is leaning into using AI instead of human labor, and just trying to justify it. However, I’m reassured to hear that even while putting on this show, the company was committed to still using the same hiring processes and hiring as many people as they would have if this were not a production utilizing AI. I’m sure the ChatGPT “actors” have all kinds of odd dialogue and suggestions that hopefully help demonstrate to the audience/ other members of the company that AI is not a valid replacement for human artists. I’m curious about what conclusions this show will come to about what it means to live in a world where technology is outpacing us. It's very interesting that they are adding this modern/ interactive/ improvisational spin on a 1923 piece.
I think this is a fascinating topic to cover because of the current social climate around technology and AI. With AI being such a debated topic, especially with the arts and art plagiarism, putting it into a production makes a strong statement for a theatre company. One thing I appreciated from the article was that they made it very clear they weren’t trying to replace or permanently add AI into the theatre world. Instead, they are using it to highlight the faults of AI and technology as a whole. Forcing the audience to think about their stance on AI during a show about technology is a great way to force the audience to think about the message, consider the faults of technology, and understand AI used effectively in art. For me, AI is a helpful tool for education, research, and art; yet it can quickly fall into the trap of negative use by doing work for the individual and taking artwork from artists who have not given their permission. I’m interested to see how AI will affect theatre and art in general but I’m also concerned for the possibilities of AI and what negative consequences it will have.
Casting ChatGPT in a show is definitely something I never would’ve thought to do, but apparently this creative theater company made it work. You must have to be a very talented actor and improviser to perform with a chatbot as your scene partner who’s lines are only around 80% accurate. I wonder if their performance might have felt more realistic since they have to actually react to what the chatbot says, rather than pretend to react even though they know exactly what they have to say. Anyways, I think if a theater company was going to cast a chatbot in their show, this would be the best way to do it. I would be weirded out if the chatbot was replacing someone who is SUPPOSED to be a human, not only because it would be very uncanny valley, but also because it would be taking someone’s job. However, I think it makes perfect sense to use chatbots to play artificial intelligence characters. The show would be much more impactful that way. - Sara
Theater artists are increasingly pushing the boundaries of traditional technology, seeking new ways to engage audiences and enhance storytelling. In addition to the traditional elements of light, sound, and stage aesthetics, many productions have started VMD, making it a universal technique in the performing arts. The recent integration of artificial intelligence, particularly tools like ChatGPT, has the potential to spark a new artistic revolution and redefine the way we experience theater. However, using AI as an actor raises significant privacy and ethical concerns. Technologies such as ChatGPT process large amounts of user data to generate responses, raising questions about data privacy and the impact of individual intellectual property. When AI interacts with human performers in real time, it becomes critical to consider the source of the data it uses and the impact this may have on the creative rights of the artists involved. The creative process of theatre relies heavily on the unique contributions of writers, directors and performers, and the introduction of artificial intelligence has complicated the field. How do we ensure that the originality and personal expression of creators is not overshadowed or compromised by the algorithmic output of AI? As we embrace these innovative technologies, it is vital that we explore frameworks that protect the rights and contributions of all individuals involved in theatre production.
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