Year 4 · 08 / 09
Technology & Humanity
An exhibition built around participation, curiosity, and questions about AI.
Are you using AI, or is AI using you?
This question sits at the heart of my Technology and Humanity exhibition. I wanted to invite our community to look more closely at how AI shapes everyday choices, when to trust it, and the responsibility we carry when using it. I wanted visitors to have something to try, question, and talk about.
The exhibition brings together interactive iPad activities and VR experiences. It reflects the same approach I bring to library instruction: give people an opportunity to explore, make a decision, and reflect on what they discover.
Turning research into an experience
The idea grew from my research into AI developments and the podcasts I listened to as I tried to understand where the technology was heading. I brought those questions into the exhibition, shaping a visitor journey from familiar uses of AI to more difficult questions about control, trust, and responsibility.
I worked with AI tools to develop the activities, while directing the stories, interactions, and learning goals. Much of the work involved testing and revising: simplifying instructions, adjusting visuals, making choices clearer, and checking whether visitors could understand what to do next. I wanted the technology to support the experience rather than make it harder to follow.
Exploring what it means to give AI control
The AI Agent simulation is a central example of what I wanted to achieve. It invites visitors to consider an AI system that can act on their behalf, and to question the control and responsibility that come with that arrangement. The experience gives a concrete starting point for asking: when should we let an automated system act, and when should a person step in?
I shaped the simulation around participation and reflection. Clear instructions, visible feedback, and opportunities to try again were important parts of the design. I kept revising these elements so visitors could spend their attention on the questions the activity raises.
Try the AI Agent experience
Choose a goal inside the simulation and decide when to let the agent act or step in. Use Start again to try another path. This is a fictional simulation; no real messages, purchases, or applications are sent.
An opportunity to share the work
The District Teaching and Learning Committee has expressed strong interest in showcasing the exhibition at our sister colleges. That interest has opened a conversation about how the work could reach more of our district community.
For me, the achievement is turning an idea and sustained research into an interactive learning experience. The next opportunity is to continue refining it and work with colleagues on how it can be shared.
I led the exhibition’s research, design, development, and coordination, with Harry Tun and Saul Milan assisting with setup.