INCREDIBLE COLOURFUL ORACLES USES AI TO PROVIDE LIFE MUSINGS TO VISITORS

Australia-based ENESS is a multidisciplinary company led by artist and creator Nimrod Weis that uses fun public art to investigate the boundary between the virtual and real worlds. The Whispering Mountains, their most recent installation, is located at the base of The Remarkables, a breathtaking snow-capped mountainscape in Queenstown, New Zealand, and boasts "AI-filled," hill-like animals.

As people pass by, these hospitable, glowing giants awaken to offer their wisdom and tell stories, functioning as "old oracles." According to ENESS, "The Whispering Mountains are in a perpetual state of meditation, contemplating contemporary avenues to happiness, and only come to life when tourists pass by, prepared to convey their ideas to those who have travelled to hear their responses." "But listen carefully!" the artists warn. More profound queries are posed.

The AI-generated spoken messages that the inflatable sculptures with LED eyes communicate combine philosophical queries with well-considered concepts. While some messages are more contemplative, others are more lighthearted. When taken as a whole, these themes challenge us to consider how AI may affect our lives in the future.