[collection]: Digital Collective Unconscious

AI Tool(s) Used

• 3D Visualization Software: Used to transform images, texts, and sounds into a dynamic 3D space.
• Networked AI Virus: A digital virus designed to spread and share data between users, creating an interconnected virtual space.

Description of Result

This piece of software, first developed in 2002, gathers media from users’ hard drives—images, texts, and sounds—and organizes them into a shared 3D environment. As the “positive” virus spreads to others who have installed the program, it creates a web of shared content, linking users’ digital spaces into a collective virtual consciousness. The resulting experience is an ever-evolving tapestry of digital fragments from multiple sources, blending personal data into a collective narrative.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Installation of the Software: Users install the software, which is designed to access the contents of their hard drives, including images, text files, and audio data.

2. Media Compilation: The software autonomously gathers this digital media and spins it into a visually engaging 3D space, where all content blends together.

3. Network Connection: The virus connects to other installations of the software, allowing content to be transmitted between users. This creates a shared virtual space that grows as more users connect.

4. 3D Visualization: All the media, from code to selfies, is represented in a 3D environment, allowing users to explore this shared content as a communal archive.

5. Ongoing Evolution: The experience is dynamic, constantly evolving as new users install the virus and contribute their own digital media to the collective space.

Tips & Tricks

• Personalize the Experience: Allow the program to access diverse types of media on your hard drive to create a richer 3D environment.
• Collaborative Viewing: Share the software with friends or colleagues to create a more intricate and layered digital collective.
• Privacy Awareness: Since the program pulls from personal data, be mindful of what content it might access or share when connecting with others.

Annotation

This artwork is an exploration of digital connectivity and the blending of personal and collective identity in a virtual space. By creating a “positive” virus that spreads across computers, the piece introduces the concept of a digital collective unconscious, where users unknowingly contribute to a larger, constantly evolving virtual space. The use of AI-driven 3D visualization highlights the interconnectedness of digital content, blurring the lines between personal, public, and even forgotten data. Through this digital tapestry, the artwork invites users to consider how technology connects us in ways that transcend individual control, merging our digital experiences into a communal consciousness.

Link to Content