This assignment has three lightweight components, none of which involve writing code:
- Looking Outwards #04: Machine Learning (Due 11/9)
- Machine Learning Tinkering (Ungraded; Due 11/9)
- Viewing: Helena Sarin Lecture Video (Before 11/9)
We may discuss the possible logistics of adding a potential fourth assignment—a machine-learning coding project similar to this “Situated Eye” project given in 2019—after assessing how people are feeling.
1. Looking Outwards #04: Machine Learning (Due 11/9)
Spend about 30 minutes browsing the following online showcases of projects that make use of machine learning and ‘AI’ techniques. More than 500 projects are indexed across these sites.
- MLArt.co Gallery (a collection of Machine Learning experiments curated by Emil Wallner).
- AI Art Gallery (online exhibition of the 2019 NeurIPS Workshop on Machine Learning for Creativity and Design). Note: this site also hosts the exhibitions for the 2018 and 2017 conferences.
- Chrome Experiments: AI Collection (a showcase of experiments, commissioned by Google, that explore machine learning through pictures, drawings, language, and music)
Now:
- After considering several dozen projects, select one to feature in a Looking Outwards blog post. Restrictions: You may not select a project by your professor, nor by Helena Sarin (who will be visiting our class on Monday 11/9).
- As usual, include an image of the selected project; a link to information about it, and 100-150 words describing the project and why you found it interesting.
- Please title this blog post nickname-LookingOutwards04, and categorize the project LookingOutwards-04.
2. Machine Learning Tinkering (Ungraded; Due 11/9)
This assignment has four parts, the purpose of which is to d̶i̶s̶t̶r̶a̶c̶t̶ immerse you in creatively using some machine-learning systems. None entail writing code.
Part 2A: Pix2Pix.
Spend some time with the Image-to-Image (Pix2Pix) demonstration page by Christopher Hesse. Experiment with edges2cats and some of the other interactive demonstrations (such as facades, edges2shoes, etc.). You are asked to:
- Create at least 3 different designs. Screenshot your work so as to show both your input and the system’s output. Embed these screenshots into a blog post.
- Write a reflective sentence about your experience using this tool.
- Title your blog post nickname-Pix2Pix, and categorize your blog post with the WordPress category, 08-Pix2Pix.
Part 2B: ArtBreeder
ArtBreeder is an interactive and participatory machine-learning based tool developed by CMU BCSA alum, Joel Simon.
- Create an account on ArtBreeder.
- You are asked to spend a half-hour zoning out with ArtBreeder. Using ArtBreeder’s “General” model, develop at least two images.
- Using your choice of the Portraits, Album Covers, Landscapes, or Anime Portraits models, create at least one additional design.
- Embed your results in a blog post entitled nickname-ArtBreeder and Categorized, 08-ArtBreeder.
- In your blog post, write a reflective sentence or two about your experience using this tool.
Part 2C: Talk to Transformer (GPT-2)
Use the “TalkToTransformer” (InferKit) tool by Adam King, built using Open AI’s GPT-2 language model, to generate some samples of text which interest you.
- TalkToTransformer: Generate two samples of text with this tool. (Use the “Custom Prompt” setting from the pulldown menu.)
- Embed the text experiments in a blog post. Use boldface to indicate which words were provided by you as inputs to the system.
- Title your blog post nickname-GPT2, and categorize your blog post with the WordPress category, 08-GPT2.
- In your blog post, write a reflective sentence or two about your experience using this tool.
Part 2D: Teachable Machine
Google’s Teachable Machine tool allows you to train a (neural-network-based) image recognition system, in the browser, without code. Some of the people contributing to the project include recent CMU alumni Irene Alvarado, Gautam Bose and Lucas Ochoa.
- Train a detector using your computer’s webcam and Google’s Teachable Machine.
- Record an animated GIF of your detector in action.
- Embed your GIF in a blog post entitled nickname-TeachableMachine, and categorize your blog post with the WordPress category, 08-TeachableMachine.
- In your blog post, write a reflective sentence or two about your experience using this tool.
3. Viewing: Helena Sarin Lecture Video (Before 11/9)
Before our class on Monday, November 9:
- Please watch the 41-minute video below, a 2019 Eyeo Festival lecture by artist Helena Sarin.
- Helena will be visiting our class 11/9. Please come prepared for her visit with two questions.