The latest visual experiments by veteran design director Wes Cockx find the Brooklyn-based CG artist applying his signature mix of abstract realism and bold/playful colors to the task of “Visualizing AI” for Google’s DeepMind.

Wes Cockx: “AI, as depicted in popular culture, is often associated with dystopian narratives that exclude the realistic risks and potential rewards of the technology. Visualizing AI began as an effort to redress this by commissioning artists to create imagery representing a more multi-dimensional picture of how AI can impact society.

“By doing so, the project aims to enable more discussions surrounding the subject, encouraging wider conversations and in turn, giving more people a voice in how the tech is developed.
 

“Visualizing AI explores the roles and responsibilities of the technology. It weighs up concerns and the societal benefits in a highly original collection of works by world-class creators.”

 
“Google DeepMind did not want to be prescriptive about the visual outputs of the project and wanted to ensure that there is a common understanding of the values that they wanted to communicate through them.

“Rather than providing mood boards and references, I was matched up with a scientist on each subject intended to elaborate on the philosophical values that were important to carry through in the animations that were created.

“Visualizing AI explores the roles and responsibilities of the technology. It weighs up concerns and the societal benefits in a highly original collection of works by world-class creators. Available as part of an open-source library, the collection aims to shift dated perceptions of AI in order for everyone and anyone to have a say on the future of the technology.”
 

 
 
Watch the R&D reel:
 

 
Client: Google

Director/animator: Wes Cockx

Music/sound design: Noi Berlin