Doha, Qatar — December 16, 2024 — “Ai or Nay? Artificial vs. Intelligent” is the latest exhibition set to open at the Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar, exploring the evolving relationship between human creativity and machine learning, while examining the opportunities and challenges AI presents in contemporary journalism.
Running from January 15 until May 15, 2025, the exhibition includes a collection of over 20 works by regional and international artists, spanning diverse mediums including visual arts, installations, and mixed media. It also features immersive digital experiences, newly commissioned works and loaned pieces from prestigious institutions such as the Computer History Museum (California, USA), Barjeel Art Foundation (Sharjah, UAE), and Qatar Museums (Doha, Qatar).
Curated by Jack Thomas Taylor, curator of art, media, and technology at the Media Majlis Museum, “Ai or Nay?” invites visitors to challenge and question the intersection between digital and human learning, focusing on how contemporary journalism could exploit the diverse possibilities of AI, its opportunities, and its limitations.
“As an institution dedicated to advancing media and communication excellence, this exhibition offers a thought-provoking exploration of how AI is shaping the world of media, privacy, identity, and representation,” said Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar.
The exhibition is viewed through the lenses of four themes — hindsight, insight, foresight, and oversight — inviting audiences to explore how AI is transforming the notions of privacy, identity, and representation. Through captivating installations, visitors encounter sketches morphing into digital artworks (Dream Machine by Jan Zuiderveld), robotic arms capturing their portraits (Time to Read by Patrick Tresset), and a 3D-printed nose telling stories through scent (Adnose by Adnan Ayub Aga).
Alfredo Cramerotti, director of the Media Majlis Museum, noted: “The Media Majlis Museum serves as a space for reflection and challenge, inviting the audience, and the young generation, to question norms and rethink their relationship with AI.”
The exhibition opens on January 15 from Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Ramadan hours vary.
About the Curator
Jack Thomas Taylor (b. 1991, United Kingdom) joined the Media Majlis Museum in 2017 as one of the founding curators. 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. In 2022, it 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 shape its future.
