About

playtest: Practicum • August 1st, 7:30 • John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

As we stand at the forefront of the AI revolution, we're faced with more questions than answers. From AI-generated content transforming the entertainment industry to innovative healthcare solutions and personalized education, AI is reshaping our world.

In today's world, algorithmic systems influence our lives in ways we may not even realize. It's crucial for all of us to take an active role in how AI is designed, developed, trained, tested, and deployed.

On August 1, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts we invite you to playtest: Practicum featuring lightning talks by Black and Brown AI creatives who will showcase the incredible possibilities and possible pitfalls of these technologies. Following presentations, we’ll dive into engaging discussions, where you'll have the chance to ask questions, offer feedback, and critique the ideas presented.

playtest: Practicum is part of our journey to design the culminating public event in 2025 – playtest: Prompt Battle. In this live competition, participants will creatively use text-to-image software to compete against each other. Judges will crown the champion based on the most unexpected, unsettling, or beautiful images produced by AI models.

Building on the success of Rap Research Lab, both of these events aim to bridge the knowledge gap on machine bias and algorithmic equity within communities of color by establishing a site for a community data experience.

Let's shape the future of AI together. What do you envision for the future of AI? Join us on August 1 to share your thoughts and be part of this exciting conversation!

august 1, 2024 | 7:30pm - 9:30pm | kennedy center | washington, dc

“Data Needs Memory describes the process of adding the qualitative back to the quantitative; with the purpose of giving life to the stories these data were meant to be in service to.”

Tahir Hemphill

“We have to learn as much as we can about AI so we can be on some sort of level playing field…if we can learn these tools and start to build our own tools, then we’re really cooking.”

Willonius Hatcher