The University of Southern California’s Wrigley Marine Science Center hosts a groundbreaking exhibit featuring AI-generated images that envision a greener Los Angeles, sparking dialogue on technology and environmentalism.
Catalina Island has become a focal point for cutting-edge art and environmental innovation with a new exhibit at the University of Southern California (USC)’s Wrigley Marine Science Center. This unique display, inaugurated in October 2023, features 11 AI-generated images envisaging a sustainable future for Los Angeles. Curated by Allison Agsten and created by USC cinematic arts professor Kathy Smith and her students, the exhibit utilises artificial intelligence to produce visionary landscapes, stirring both intrigue and contemplation.
The artwork reimagines familiar Los Angeles landmarks through a green lens. One depiction shows downtown streets shaded by verdant overhead walkways, while another portrays the hills beneath the iconic Hollywood sign adorned with solar panels. Several images reimagine the Los Angeles River, transforming its concrete barriers into spaces filled with lush vegetation, wildlife, and pedestrian paths. Perhaps the most provocative concept is a freeway along the river, void of cars and populated entirely by bicycles.
Smith and her students employed AI programs like Midjourney and OpenAI’s Dall-E to generate these visuals. The initiative served as an experiment, aiming to harness the rapid creative capabilities of AI to propose sustainable futures. This was not without its challenges: AI sometimes produced impractical or inaccurate images, such as a depiction of a flourishing invasive mule deer population on Catalina Island, a nod to the island’s real-world struggle with this non-native species.
The exhibit transcends traditional art by acting as a catalyst for dialogue about the role of AI in environmentalism and urban planning. Agsten, who also leads the Center for Climate Journalism and Communication at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, acknowledges her mixed feelings about AI. However, she appreciates its efficiency, noting the technology can greatly expedite the creative process by quickly generating and refining concepts based on user prompts.
The island, situated about two dozen miles off the Southern California coast, has its own historical and environmental significance. Purchased largely by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. in 1916, Catalina Island was gifted in part to USC by Wrigley’s conservationist son, Philip, to establish a marine science station. Today, the Wrigley Institute boasts sustainable efforts like a solar-powered dining hall and plans for a solar-plus-battery microgrid, aiming to reduce dependency on diesel generators.
The maritime campus extends its research into areas such as wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability. One notable project involves experimenting with sunflowers to absorb nickel from contaminated soils—a potential method to mitigate harmful mining practices.
The use of AI in art and environmental research underscores a broader debate: can this technology help confront pressing global issues like climate change? While concerns about its drawbacks persist, including the high energy consumption of data centres and the potential misuse of AI-generated content, proponents highlight its capacity to innovate solutions swiftly.
Ultimately, the exhibit on Catalina Island not only provides a glimpse into possible futures but also invites visitors to reconsider the potential and limits of AI. Amidst the island’s natural beauty, the installation challenges perceptions and expands horizons, promoting a vision where technology and nature might find harmony. Whether visitors view the AI-generated depictions with scepticism or hope, the exhibit undoubtedly sparks essential conversations about our collective future.
As Agsten puts it, the installation is an “experiment”—one that mixes imagination with reality, urging us to consider new narratives in the pursuit of sustainability.
