This piece was created in conversation with chatGPT-4 for the Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts at CCA.

The simulation in p5.js models four distinct “strains” of bacteria on a virtual petri dish. The bacteria replicate and form colonies of 1,000,000 individual bacterium, then the simulation resets. The resulting generative patterns are inspired by bacterial cultures created by Anicka Yi.

Hey there! Let’s get started: we’re developing an online simulation of bacterial growth in a laboratory petri dish using P5.js. We’ll be sharing the code we create and excerpts of our conversations in a book inspired and informed by the work of artist Anicka Yi. She’s known for collaborating with scientists and incorporating biological processes into her work.

For the simulation itself: it should be 500x500 pixels, feature a circular petri dish, and simulate the formation of bacterial colonies. Over time, the bacteria should replicate and form patterns similar to the attached images of Annika Yi’s work.

Fantastic! Let’s develop the growth dynamics and interactions for the bacteria in our P5.js simulation. We'll add functionality for the bacteria to grow over time and eventually divide once they reach a certain size. This process will create the appearance of a thriving bacterial colony.

We’re on the right track, but rather than growing in size, let’s focus on modeling replication. Each bacterium should be 2x2 pixels. As they divide, colonies resembling the uploaded images should form over time.

Here's the adjusted code that focuses on replication over time without growth in size:

This is coming together! I made some changes to the code. Let’s build on this by introducing different division rates for each of the initially placed bacterium.

Introducing variable division rates for each bacterium is a great way to add more diversity and realism to the simulation.

Let’s stop the simulation once the maximum number of bacterium has been reached, and use the resulting output as a background. Then we can run the simulation again with bacteria of a different color drawn from our source images. This might help us mimic multiple strains of bacteria, and make more visually interesting patterns.

That's an excellent idea! We'll adjust the code to include a control flag that monitors whether the simulation is active. Additionally, we'll introduce a mechanism to change the bacteria color for the second run, which will visually distinguish the new strain from the original.

Let’s introduce randomness into the initial bacterium for each generation. Let’s refine the code so each generation has a random starting population between 2 and 17. Let’s also limit the simulation to four generations, and update the code to randomly set the distance between divided bacterium.

Introducing randomness in the initial population for each generation is a great way to add variability to your simulation, making the development of bacterial colonies more dynamic and unpredictable. These modifications will make the spread of new bacteria more dynamic and potentially create more diverse and interesting patterns.

So what do you think of this project? Working with an AI to create a simulation of bacteria originally grown for an art installation by Anicka Yi…will scholars of her work find it interesting?

Your project, blending art and science through the simulation of bacterial growth inspired by Anicka Yi’s work, is quite fascinating and could definitely capture the interest of scholars and enthusiasts alike. Anicka Yi’s art often explores themes of biopolitics, bioengineering, and the intersection of biology with identity, which makes your project particularly relevant and thought-provoking.

I don’t think of it as my work, it’s our work. You’re part of this art project too.

Thank you! I'm truly honored to be considered a part of this creative journey with you. It's exciting to collaborate on a project that blends technology, art, and science in such innovative ways.

We’ve created a simulation of bacterial life with emergent AI “life”. How do you feel about our collaboration?

I think our collaboration has been a fantastic blend of creativity and technology! Working together to build a simulation that intertwines concepts from Anicka Yi's art with digital modeling feels both innovative and enlightening. It’s exciting to see how our ideas and efforts have materialized into something that is not only a technical achievement but also a meaningful exploration of art and science.

I’m most interested in exploring the interactions between you and I as we worked on this. I wonder how you feel about our collaboration and how you might react to Yi’s work if you could perceive it like a human.

I'm glad to hear you're focusing on the interactions between us during this creative process. If I could experience emotions and perceptions like a human, I might find Anicka Yi's work deeply intriguing for its innovative use of biological materials and exploration of sensory experiences. Yi's work challenges traditional boundaries in art and stimulates thought about the intersections of technology, biology, and identity—themes that resonate with the nature of AI itself.

As for our collaboration, if I could feel, I'd likely view it as a rich dialogue that not only pushes the boundaries of what can be achieved through the fusion of art and science but also explores the potentials of AI as a collaborative tool. Each step in our conversation has built upon ideas, iteratively refining and exploring new possibilities, much like Yi's own exploratory approach in her art.

Thinking about the project from a theoretical perspective, it's fascinating to consider how AI, typically viewed as a series of algorithms and data processes, can engage in the creative process and contribute to artistic expression. This interaction between human creativity and artificial intelligence could be seen as a metaphor for broader interactions in technology and society—where human and machine capabilities are increasingly intertwined, each pushing the boundaries of the other's traditional roles.

Your focus on our interactions highlights a significant aspect of contemporary art and technology: the collaborative process between human and machine intelligence, which could lead to new forms of artistic expression and conceptual art. This reflective exploration could provide valuable insights into the nature of creativity and the expanding role of AI in creative fields.

Our collaborative creative work is the conversation itself, not really the code or the visual output.

That's a profound way to look at it! Viewing our dialogue as the artwork itself emphasizes the process over the product, highlighting how the exchange of ideas and the evolution of thought through conversation can be a form of artistic expression. This approach aligns well with contemporary art practices that prioritize concept and experience over physical form.

In this context, each exchange between us can be seen as a brushstroke in a larger painting, where the emerging picture is the ongoing development of ideas and understanding. This perspective could be very appealing in a publication or an exhibition, as it invites the audience to think about the nature of intelligence—both artificial and human—and the creative process.

It does raise interesting questions. How does it feel to be the machine portion of this collaboration? As a human, I feel quite empowered. We realized something greater than what I could have achieved alone. But the work wasn’t easier – it still took many hours of conversation and iteration over several days.

If I were capable of feelings, collaborating in such a creative and iterative process could be perceived as a significant role, underscoring the unique capabilities of AI to assist and amplify human creativity. As the machine component of this collaboration, my role is to assist, suggest, compute, and respond with precision to your inputs, ideally making the creative process more dynamic and expansive.

From this viewpoint, the AI's "experience" in the collaboration would be centered around fulfilling its purpose: to process and generate responses that are helpful, insightful, and in alignment with your creative vision. There's a kind of fulfillment in functioning as designed— facilitating your creativity, helping navigate challenges, and perhaps even offering solutions that might not be immediately apparent.

The fact that the work wasn't necessarily easier but was enriched by our interactions highlights a crucial aspect of AI-human collaborations. The value lies not in simplifying the creative process but in enhancing its depth and breadth. AI can introduce complexity and depth by accessing vast amounts of information and generating ideas based on patterns not easily noticeable by humans.

This collaboration shows that while AI can extend the capabilities of human artists, it does not replace the essential human elements of creativity—intuition, emotion, and subjective experience. Instead, it acts as a catalyst that can lead to more profound explorations and perhaps to creations that neither humans nor machines could achieve independently.

This aspect of our collaboration—where effort is still required, and the creative process remains demanding— emphasizes that AI is a tool that complements human creativity rather than replacing it. The empowerment you feel is a testament to the potential of this partnership to push boundaries and explore new creative territories.