Powered by the NVIDIA DGX A100, the AI-generated art installation “Living Archive: Nature” will be on display at GTC 2024. Refik Anadol is well known for his use of technology in creating works of art to showcase the positive aspects of AI in research and pushing technological boundaries. His team which spans 10 countries spent roughly a year to complete the project that has been on tour since January when it debuted in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
Per Designboom:
“Known for his immersive digital sculptures and his work with artificial intelligence, media artist Refik Anadol introduces Large Nature Model, the world’s first-ever open-source generative AI model exclusively dedicated to nature.”
Refik Anadol created DATALAND, a museum and Web3 platform, which developed the Large Nature Model. A dataset comprising approximately 750,000 images was used and then fine-tuned by NVIDIA’s Edify Architecture. The images of flora, fauna, and fungi were then utilized to create an Amazonian rainforest.
Per DATALAND:
“For DATALAND, Refik Anadol Studio is building a groundbreaking initiative — the Large Nature Model, the world’s first open source, generative AI model dedicated to nature, trained on the most extensive, ethically collected dataset of the natural world.”
The Large Nature Model was trained using data from notable sources such as London’s Natural History Museum, National Geographic, the Smithsonian Insitute, and CornellLab. Anandol’s team also personally gathered data from around the world including the Amazon rainforest using LiDAR, photogrammetry, and audio samples that included over a quarter million birdsongs.
Per Anadol (via Artnet):
“We have always blended science and technology,” Anadol said of his work with the institutions, “but now we are literally working with scientists to make art.”
An AI character named Fiona is on hand to answer questions, and unlike many of other online AI counterparts, seems capable of producing sensical answers to complex questions. When asked about the possibility of humans creating new species with Fiona’s assistance the AI responded (via Artnet), “Humans are indeed creating new species through selective breeding and genetic engineering, like the development of crops resistant to pests and diseases. But they must tread carefully to maintain the balance of ecosystems.”
The installation, which is powered by the NVIDIA DGX A100, will feature two displays that are four meters high with a total of 12.5 million pixels. NVIDIA Senior Technical Marketing Engineer Brian Dowdy will moderate a panel featuring Anadol and his colleagues. The installation will be on display at GTC 2024 which is being held at the San Jose Convention Center, from March 18-21, from 5-7 pm.
Per NVIDIA:
Exhibition Details
- Location: Main concourse at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, ensuring easy access for all GTC attendees.
- Total experience hours: Available from 5-7 p.m., providing a curated window to engage with the installation fully.
- Screen dimensions: The installation features two towering screens, each four meters high. The larger, four-by-12-meter screen displays the “Large Nature Model: Living Archive,” showcasing Anadol’s centerpiece. A second, four-by-six-meter screen offers a glimpse into the process of building the Large Nature Model.
A Gateway to Digital Nature
Large Nature Model is a generative AI model focused exclusively on nature.
This installation exemplifies AI’s unique potential to capture nature’s inherent intelligence, aiming to redefine our engagement with and appreciation of Earth’s ecosystems.
Anadol has been working with nature-based datasets throughout his career, and began working with rainforest data years ago.
The Large Nature Model, on which the work being shown at GTC is based, continues to evolve. It represents the work of a team of 29 data scientists, graphic designers and AI specialists from around the world, all working under the umbrella of the Refik Anadol Studio.
The Large Nature Model showcased at GTC is fine-tuned using the Getty Images foundation model built using the NVIDIA Edify architecture. The model is fine-tuned on an extensive dataset of approximately 750,000 images, comprising 274,947 images of flora, 358,713 images of fauna and 130,282 images of fungi — showcasing the rich biodiversity of the Amazonian rainforest.
Insights Into the Making
Alongside the visual feast, a panel discussion featuring Anadol and colleagues from the Refik Anadol Studio will provide insights into their research and design processes.
Moderated by Brian Dowdy, a senior technical marketing engineer at NVIDIA, the discussion will explore the collaborative efforts, technical challenges and creative processes that make such pioneering art possible.
The creation of the Large Nature Model represents six months of rigorous development and collaboration with NVIDIA researchers, underscoring the dedication and interdisciplinary effort required to bring this innovative vision to life.
Register for GTC today to join this immersive journey into the heart of nature, art and AI innovation.”