An unusual “luxury” coworking space called Chat Haus has opened in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood . It looks like a regular office for freelancers: people work at computers, some talk on the phone, others have business coffee breaks. However, there is one important difference: all the employees in this coworking space are cardboard robots. Before you get surprised, it’s worth noting that Chat Haus is not a real office, but an art exhibition created by artist Nim Ben-Reuven.
The project was Ben-Reuven’s creative protest against how artificial intelligence is taking over his native graphic design and videography industries. The artist noted that his opportunities as a freelancer are shrinking every day as many companies switch to using AI tools. Inspired by this, he created an exhibition that is meant to entertain viewers and add a bit of humor to this alarming situation.
In Chat Haus, you can see cardboard humanoids sitting at tables and “working” on computers. They move thanks to the work of small motors. On the walls of the exhibition there are signs with the price of renting a workspace — $1999 per month, as well as the slogan: “Luxury coworking space for chatbots.” The artist himself says that this work is his way of coping with disappointment and not allowing himself to fall into depression about changes in the industry.
Ben-Reuven’s work reflects his attitude towards AI: on the one hand, he understands why people are fascinated by artificial intelligence and its capabilities, but on the other, he believes that such technologies are vulnerable in creativity. The cardboard from which the robots are made symbolizes the fragility and temporariness of AI. These “robots” may look beautiful at first glance, but they easily break under the slightest impact, which, according to the artist, reminds us of the superficiality and fragility of many AI products.
The exhibition has become popular among locals. People often stop at the window, take photos and discuss what they see. Especially children, who are curious about unusual views. Although Ben-Reuven admits that AI can change the labor market, he believes that in the context of global problems such as wars or natural disasters, these transformations are not the worst thing.
For Ben-Reuven, using cardboard in art is a familiar technique. Even in graduate school, he brought to life realistic models, such as entire airport terminals. Working with this material, he mainly addressed important themes of the transience of trends.
Chat Haus is a temporary exhibition, and the artist hopes it will remain open until at least mid-May. He plans to move the project to a gallery and perhaps expand it by adding more cardboard residents. However, this all depends on finding a place to store the works when the exhibition ends. In any case, Ben-Reuven’s project continues to attract attention and makes us think about the future of technology and its impact on creative professions.