Nishae W

 

Concept idea:

I set up a public board (poster board or cardboard) titled: “CAN YOU TELL WHAT’S REAL? AI or HUMAN?”

I print or handwrite 6–10 short statements about real-life issues (mental health, school stress, beauty expectations, relationships, racism, etc).

I write half, Half are AI-generated.

The audience guesses which are real or AI by sticking color-coded post-its onto the board.

The point:

To show how AI blends into real emotions, real problems, and real people’s voices, and how it becomes harder to tell what is genuine.

Simple materials

• A board
• Printed phrases or handwritten phrases
• Sticky notes (two colors)
• A simple sign
• Maybe a QR code, but optional

Performance

I sit or stand near the board and let people guess, taking photos of the board as people interact with it. That’s the entire intervention.

Message

AI is replacing real voices, real emotions, and real human connection. It raises questions about authenticity and identity.

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Detailed version:

For my performance intervention, I am creating an interactive public board called “AI or HUMAN?” The goal of the project is simple: show people how easily artificial intelligence can imitate human voices, emotions, and personal experiences. I chose this topic because AI is becoming part of everyday life — in schoolwork, social media, jobs, and even mental health conversations. Many people use AI tools without realizing how quickly AI can blend into genuine emotional expression, and I want my project to make people stop and think about that.

The project setup is easy and accessible. I will create a poster board divided into two columns. I will write or print 6–10 short statements, such as personal confessions, emotional thoughts, everyday complaints, or simple reflections about life. Half will be written by me (a real human). AI will generate half. My audience is invited to guess which ones are “AI” and which ones are “HUMAN” by placing color-coded sticky notes under each statement. This creates a quick, fun, and low-pressure way for people to interact with the topic of AI ethics and authenticity.

This small action, guessing becomes the main performance. By participating, the audience experiences firsthand how AI-generated language now feels real, emotional, and sometimes more believable than actual human writing. This brings up the key question of the project: What happens when AI sounds more human than real humans?

Location & Audience

I plan to set up my board in a public walkway at school (outside the cafeteria, library, or main hallway). Students will maybe stop to read and interact. I will take photos of the board, the sticky notes, and the participation (no identifiable faces unless someone agrees).

Message

My message is: AI can imitate human emotion so convincingly that we must actively protect authenticity, trust, and real human voices. I want viewers to realize that the difference between AI and human expression isn’t always obvious and that this creates social, creative, and emotional consequences.

Inspirations and sources:

1. Jenny Holzer: Uses simple text in public spaces to invoke thought. Inspired my idea to use short statements that challenge the audience.

    This project is inspired MAINLY by Jenny Holzer, whose text-based public installations use simple but powerful language to confront ideas about truth, controversy, authority, and manipulation. Her approach to placing provocative statements in everyday spaces directly relates to how I feel the topic on AI should be approached, and reshapes what we believe and trust.

2. Barbara Kruger: Her bold text and direct messaging inspired the simple, “confrontational” style of my poster board.

3. Suzanne Lacy: Her participatory, interactive public performances influenced the way I involve the audience directly.

4. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Creates interactive pieces using technology; inspired the concept of letting the audience “choose” to engage… or ignore me.

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The Art of Activism textbook

Pew Research Center — Reports on public trust in AI

“Coded Bias” documentary

Article: How AI Imitates Human Emotion (MIT Tech Review)

Article: Why People Struggle to Tell AI Text From Human Text (The Atlantic)

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Hw:

Chapter 8

Quotes:

1. “The Nazis understood that style matters.”
2. “They also understood style.”

Response:

These quotes show that even harmful groups can use presentation to influence people. It proves that appearance, design, and the way a message is delivered can be just as powerful as the message itself. It also warns that style isn’t always harmless, it can be used to manipulate and control people if they aren’t paying attention to what’s really behind it.

Chapter 9:

Quotes:

1. “A creative utopian project can transport people into a radically alternate universe.”
2. “If it is well constructed, utopia is something that attracts people. It is a place that people want to visit, live within, and help to create.”

One Simple Response:

These quotes explain that utopias aren’t just imaginary places, they’re powerful ideas that can inspire people. A well-designed utopia makes people want to be part of it because it offers hope and a vision of something better. It shows that imagining a different world can motivate people to think differently and even take action toward making a change.