about

medusai is a multi-modal AI driven robotic sculpture that responds to and interacts with humans through sound, light, touch, and movement. Inspired by the Greek myth of Medusa, the sculpture features seven robotic arms in the form of "snake hair" installed on top of 8x10 ft. metallic "face" structure. Human movement around medusai is captured by a top mounted camera and an artificial vision tracking system drives the robotic arms to follow humans, pluck strings, and hit drums around its surface. medusai also responds with light and electronic sound to humans' activity such as drumming and plucking strings. The project is inspired by the Ancient Greek myth of Medusa, who was born as a mortal maiden known for her beauty and good nature. After being raped and abused, Medusa was cursed by Athena to become a snake haired monster who turns anyone who looks at her to stone. The medusai project builds on this myth as a metaphor for the societal effects of AI in our current time. The project captures and reflects on the good intentions and promises of AI on one hand and the risks and threats on the other. The eerie and uncanny notion of AI-driven robotic snakes following and threatening humans is countered by the sculpture’s potential to inspire humans - musicians, dancers, museum visitors - to push the boundaries of their creativity and expression by interacting with the AI driven robotic sculpture. A soft opening of the exhibition took place at Trillith Studios in December 2023.