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Doha, Qatar – January 15, 2025 – Ai or Nay? Artificial vs. Intelligent opened today at the Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar. The exhibition, running until May 15, 2025, invites audiences to question, reexamine, and deepen their inescapable relationship with machine learning. Through the lens of over 20 works by regional and international artists, immersive digital experiences, newly commissioned pieces, and loaned works from esteemed institutions such as the Computer History Museum (California, USA), Barjeel Art Foundation (Sharjah, UAE), and Qatar Museums (Qatar), the exhibition questions the opportunities and challenges AI presents in our contemporary life and how these relate to journalism.
Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar said: "As an institution dedicated to advancing excellence in media and communication, this exhibition exemplifies Northwestern Qatar's commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and engagement in contemporary media. It allows us to explore the intricate relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence, a pressing topic in today's rapidly evolving media landscape."
Curated by Jack Thomas Taylor, Curator of Art, Media, and Technology at the Media Majlis Museum, Ai or Nay? Artificial vs. Intelligent invites visitors to engage with the intersection of digital and human learning and to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping concepts of privacy, identity, and representation. Jack Thomas Taylor says: "We're entering an era where AI will become as ubiquitous as the internet. Curating Ai or Nay? has allowed for the fundamental skills we need to navigate this new era—investigation, prompting, and questioning, to come to the fore. Visitors can interact with both digital and physical content in distinct ways, prompting them to consider whether we are shaping AI, or if AI is shaping us."
On display are installations from international creatives such as Jan Zuiderveld (Netherlands), Patrick Tresset (France/Belgium), and Adnan Ayub Aga (UAE/Portugal), alongside interactive and visual works by Amr Alngmah (Yemen/Egypt), Farjana Salahuddin (Bangladesh), graphic designer Hind Al Saad (Qatar), and Hadeer Omar (Egypt) and Bilge Emir (Turkey/Germany). Complementing these artworks are digital installations created by the Media Majlis Museum, and a full-color illustrated glossary of AI and journalism terminology, available in both English and Arabic and published by Silvana Editoriale.
Alfredo Cramerotti, Director, added: "Our museum is dedicated to thought-provoking initiatives and engaging with a younger generation that has grown up with technology. This exhibition aims to take a step forward, encouraging our audience to ask deeper questions and explore the future of AI through the intersection of art and technology."
Ai or Nay? aligns with Northwestern Qatar's broader goals of encouraging visitors to reflect on the rapidly developing contemporary society and underscores the museum's role as a cultural hub that fosters deeper connections to contemporary issues while pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms and artistic expression.
About the Curator
Jack Thomas Taylor (b. 1991, United Kingdom) joined the Media Majlis Museum in 2017 as one of the founding curators and has worked extensively across multiple areas of the organization since its inception. Since 2009, he has held various positions in the arts, culture, and creative domains in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, and Qatar across exhibitions, branding, visual arts, programming, and publishing. In 2023, Taylor became a founding board member of the inaugural International Council of Museums (ICOM) national committee in Qatar.
About the Media Majlis Museum
The Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar is the first university museum in the Arab world dedicated to exploring journalism, communication, and media. Through engaging exhibitions, publications, programs, and online resources, the Museum creates immersive experiences that challenge conventional narratives and present diverse perspectives on global, regional, and local stories. Since its opening in Spring 2019, the Media Majlis Museum has transcended the traditional role of a museum, fostering intellectual exploration, promoting open dialogue, and inspiring innovation at the intersection of art, communication, and technology. In 2022, the Media Majlis Museum became the first museum in the Middle East to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
About Northwestern University in Qatar
Northwestern University in Qatar is known for its distinguished history, famous programs, and exceptional faculty. Founded in partnership with the Qatar Foundation, Northwestern Qatar provides a framework through which students explore the world and, ultimately, shape its future through its distinguished programs in communication, journalism and strategic communication, and the liberal arts.
