Machines that Make Art: from Automata to AI

Art and technology have always been intertwined, from the earliest mechanical drawing tools to today’s AI-generated masterpieces. The history of machines in art is as old as the Antikythera mechanism of ancient Greece, as intricate as the automata of the Islamic Golden Age, and as revolutionary as the first computer-generated images of the 20th century.

In this course, we join art historian Dr Michael Paraskos and philosopher Dr Matthew Rowe, to explore the evolving role of mechanical and digital processes in artistic creation.

We will trace the lineage of computational creativity, from the first algorithmic artworks to the contemporary use of artificial intelligence. Along the way, we will consider questions of authorship, originality, and the ethics of machine-generated art.

As we shall see, although modern AI tools like Midjourney and DeepDream have sparked debates about the role of machines in creative practice, they are part of a much longer tradition of artists using technology to extend, transform, or even replace human expression.

Class recordings

These classes are not recorded.

Imperial certificates

There are no examinations or assessments for this course. However, attendance can lead to the award of an Imperial attendance certificate (T&Cs apply).