Event

Algorithms and machines are transforming how artworks are produced - but can they replicate the complex psychosocial capacity of empathy in performative arts like music and theater? Moritz offers an example-based overview of the history of non-human performers in the arts and shares current state-of-the-art projects in this field. He discusses his personal journey of combining engineering with art, highlighting projects like the "MR-808 Drum Robot" and automated installations like "Don't Look at Me." Through these works, he examines how robotic performers impact audience perception and emotional engagement. The talk asks critical questions: How do machines alter the psychosocial dynamics of performance? What are the minimal structures needed to evoke an empathetic response from the audience? How does the concept of the Uncanny Valley, as proposed by Masahiro Mori, influence our reactions to non-human performers? So - can we automate empathy? Let's find out!