Dictionary.com reports their chosen word for 2023 was “hallucinate”—interesting choice. Kory Stamper, Senior Editor of Lexicography, says it’s because 2023 will be remembered as the year that “AI forever changed how we work, learn, create, interact with information, (and misinformation) and think about ourselves. (That’s) why we chose hallucinate as our 2023 Word of the Year. The data encapsulates technology’s continuing impact on social change, and the continued discrepancy between the perfect future we envision and the messy one we actually achieve.”
Last week on a group Zoom call, a South African friend visiting Israel made us aware of a global phenomenon I’d missed. A huge interactive statue glorifying man’s accomplishments called “the Giant” is a big art statement now on display and operational in Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, Atlanta, Singapore and planned for many more cities. It also can take on the image and voice of anyone who provides a scan to interact with it.
Its May 2021 news release announced that “The Giant, a new huge interactive statue art statement, will operate in 21 cities across the globe. The ten story tall display will showcase giants across the globe using technology to celebrate humanity.” Visitors may see it now in Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, Atlanta, London, and will be completed in twenty-one global cities. Like the Statue of Liberty, tourists may climb inside. The giant interactive statue looks amazingly real, moves its arms and head, and sings and speaks via AI. It has the capacity to express visitors’ image and voice if they go through the special visitor technology scan. One brochure says, “Awake the giant in you.”
The Giant Company’s ad describes it as, “The world’s tallest moving sculpture with matrix LED skin—the cutting-edge visitor attraction for the 21st century! The Giant will be one of the world’s most ambitious cultural and commercial projects!”
This link below tells more– Today.com/video/get-a-first-look-at-the-giant-statue-coming-to-21-cities-across-the-globe-111691845786
It reminds me of the giant statue that Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar erected long ago. But rather than me saying more, what are your thoughts? Is this a suitable goal to pursue at this time in history? What ways to celebrate humanity do you encourage?
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