In a new experimental short film, FIELD explore how human identity could change as a result of artificial intelligence.

"Hidden Layer looks at the way neural networks augment our identities and change the way we think and behave. With AI increasing its influence on the decisions we make and the information we digest, how will algorithmic structures infiltrate and influence human concepts of self? What happens to AI - augmented humans if the structures they rely on collapse?

Often described in terms of what it can do for us, a neural network is complex, self-evolving and dynamic. It is also capable of decision-making autonomously, without human intervention. As such, artificial intelligence algorithms can be understood both as a way to analyse today’s complex world and as beings distinct from human influence.

The name Hidden Layer comes from a term used in the development of artificial neural networks. The Hidden Layer is neither seen nor understood by humans; it is the part of the network in which the main computation driving the network is done. Hidden Layer is part of FIELD’s broader series of works titled Second Nature, which examines Machine Learning as an entity."

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FIELD
London based digital art studio FIELD work at the intersection of art, technology and design, and explore “colour, life, and infinity though new technology and a research-led approach - creating high-tech experiences with a human touch”. FIELD create expressive and dynamic artworks for digital platforms, including audiovisual installations, digital artefacts, and interactive films. FIELD are known for their unique approach to aesthetics, blending the latest digital technologies with nature and human subjects. FIELD’s body of work takes many different shapes, from apps to installations. Their work Energy Flow is an app experience weaving animated story lines into audiovisual pieces that change endlessly and is different for each viewer.

It was listed among the best apps from The Guardian Technology blog. For Deutsche Bank, FIELD collaborated with Universal Everything to create a large-scale installation using a 12-metre wide screen with atmospheric cityscapes, hand-drawn scenes, patterns and landscape animations that were generated in realtime that made every iteration unique. The studio collaborates with cultural institutions and global brands on commissioned artworks and generative design solutions, including Nike, Deutsche Bank, HP, Nokia, GE, and AOL. Their work has been exhibited at cultural institutions and galleries internationally, including at La Gaîté Lyrique, Paris; The China Museum for Digital Art, Beijing; and The British Library, London. FIELD has also been included in festival programs at Ars Electronica and onedotzero.