This short talk (re)-introduces Vilém Flusser’s concept of the “black box” as a potential framework for contextualising aspects of image generation systems within the world of photography and other techniques for image- and meaning-making.

While AI systems appear to think, their inner logic often resists scrutiny, reinforcing a culture of technological enchantment. These opaque and ubiquitous AI models are perfect examples of what philosopher Vilém Flusser called a "black box": devices whose internal workings are hidden behind simplistic input/output interfaces.

While it is not my aim to take any kind of anti-technology positioning within this debate, this short talk is meant to review, revive, and reframe some of the problematics raised by Flusser, while revisiting strategies for intervention and meaningful engagement.

Thiago Hersan is an artist, researcher, and educator interested in the collaborative potential of all technologies. He holds a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and has worked as a circuit designer, programmer, and design-technologist in a variety of contexts and teams. Thiago is currently an assistant professor of Art, Media, and Technology at Parsons School of Design, where he teaches programming, machine learning, and design. He is also a visiting researcher at the University of São Paulo's School of Architecture, Urbanism, and Design, where he develops tools for analysing, questioning, and reorganising public media archives. He has been a resident artist at Impakt in Utrecht, Delfina Foundation in London, and Autodesk in San Francisco, and has participated in exhibitions at MUDAC in Lausanne, Science Gallery in Dublin, and SESC in São Paulo.