Supercharged by AI

Synthetic and out of control

A minimalist black and white graphic features the text "super charged by AI" in a bold sans-serif font, accompanied by the smaller phrase "synthetic and out of control." The key visual element is a warped perspective grid that appears to fade out toward the right, created with a black halftone dot effect. The design suggests themes of digital technology, data distortion, and the power of artificial intelligence.

“Supercharged by AI” is a new creative intervention produced by Tactical Tech and DensityDesign Lab at Politecnico di Milano, in collaboration with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

From chatbots to deepfakes, AI-generated content is becoming increasingly common online. New AI tools make it easier, faster and cheaper to generate text, images, videos, and more. In turn, the harms that have always existed online – scams, harassment, polarisation and bias – are now being “supercharged” by AI.

AI tools are being used to fabricate news, imitate reality, and shape public opinions and behaviours in ways that can be almost impossible to detect. AI models, trained on datasets that reflect their creators’ biases, reinforce stereotypes and lead to consequences that stretch beyond the digital sphere. How can we stay informed and aware about this rapidly-changing technology?

The exhibition “Supercharged by AI” will address how AI is impacting the ways that media and information is produced, distributed and perceived. It is presented by The Glass Room, an award-winning project by Tactical Tech that raises awareness through playful and provocative explorations of our relationship to technology.

Two people interact with a poster hanging on a white wall, titled "Cosa ne pensi?" (What do you think?), which invites them to express opinions on topics related to technology and artificial intelligence. A girl on the right, wearing a gray hoodie, places blue stickers on the board, while in the foreground, a woman with long black hair and a red jacket reviews documents on a wooden table. The image documents a participatory activity or an interactive survey within an educational or research setting.
A bright hallway, likely inside a library or a university department, hosts an infographic exhibition hanging on the white walls. The posters, secured with simple metal clips, display complex data and graphics related to artificial intelligence, including the "super charged by AI" poster seen earlier. At the end of the corridor, a bookshelf filled with books and an emergency exit are visible, suggesting an environment dedicated to study and the dissemination of knowledge.

“Supercharged by AI” is an easy-to-produce, large-scale display that can be presented in libraries, community centres, universities, festivals and museums. It contains engaging resources – including 3 visualisations, 2 books and an interactive poster and a detailed set-up guide – that make complex issues related to AI more tangible for visitors.

“Supercharged by AI” is complemented by the Data Detox Kit’s new Essential Guide to AI, which provides practical tips for what to do when we are confronted with these issues in our online lives.

Starting November 2024, this brand new exhibition about AI’s societal impacts is travelling through 50 libraries in Europe.

Events


Italy:

  • Biblioteca del Consiglio regionale del Friuli Venezia Giulia - L. Paladin,Trieste (2/12/2024 - 10/1/2025)
  • Biblioteca Scientifica e per i Pazienti, Aviano (PN), (27/1/2025 - 14/2/2025)
  • Biblioteca Centrale "G. Marconi" - CNR, Roma, (28/2/2025 - 16/3/2025)
  • Biblioteca Fra Landolfo Caracciolo, Biblioteca ecclesiastica, Napoli (9/12/2024 - 23/12/2024)
  • Biblioteca Beato Pellegrino, Padova, (13/1/2025 - 26/1/2025)
  • Biblioteca Centrale di Psicologia, Padova (14/2/2025 - 31/3/2025)
  • Sistema Castelli Romani - Genzano di Roma (22/11/2024 - 13/12/2024)
  • Biblioteca "Angelo Majorana", Militello in Val di Catania, (15/2/2025 - 1/3/2025)
  • Sistema bibliotecario comunale di Perugia - Biblioteca degli Arconi, Perugia (15/3/2025 - 31/3/2025)
  • Biblioteca Civica di Santhià, Santhià (Vercelli), (19/11/2024 - 07/12/2024)
  • Biblioteca Civica Multimediale Archimede, Settimo Torinese (1/2/2025 - 31/3/2025)
  • Carlo Emilio Gadda Melegnano, Melegnano (29/3/2025 - 19/4/2025)
  • Biblioteca provinciale italiana "Claudia Augusta" Bolzano, (22/11/2024 - 6/12/2024)
  • Biblioteca comunale Giuseppe D'Addosio, Capurso (BA), (16/1/2025 - 31/1/2025)
  • Biblioteca comunale San Giorgio, Pistoia, (28/2/2025 - 16/3/2025)
  • Biblioteca civica "Renzo Deaglio", Alassio (SV), (09/12/2024 - 09/01/2024)
  • Biblioteca centrale "Arturo Frinzi", Sistema bibliotecario (locale o accademico), Verona, (3/2/2025 - 17/2/2025)
  • Area Biblioteche Università degli studi di Udine, Udine, (27/5/2025 - 8/6/2025)

Czech Republic:

  • National Library, (15/11/2024 - 31/12/2024)
  • Břeclav Municipal Library, (15/11/2024 - 01/01/2025)
  • Moravian-Silesian Research Library in Ostrava, (01/01/2025 - 31/01/2025)
  • University Library in Opava, (01/01/2025 - 28/02/2025)
  • Olomouc Municipal Library, (01/02/2025 - 28/02/2025)

Estonia:

  • Academic Library of Tallinn University, (15/11/2024 - 31/12/2024)
  • University of Tartu library, (15/11/2024 - 31/12/2024)
  • Tallinn Central Library, (01/01/2025 - 31/01/2025)
  • Estonian Aviation Academy Library, (01/01/2025 - 28/02/2025)
  • Tallinn University of Technology Library,(01/02/2025 - 28/02/2025)

Greece:

  • Municipal Library of Pireaus, (17/02/2025 - 28/02/2025)
  • Municipal Library of Thessaloniki, (25/11/2024 - 09/12/2024)
  • University of Macedonia, (01/02/2025 - TBD)
  • Kalambaka Library, (01/02/2025 - 20/02/2025)
  • Chios Public Library, (03/02/2025 - 07/02/2025)
  • Hellenic Mediterranean University, (10/02/2025 - 21/02/2025)


Portugal: dates TBD

  • Escola Secundária Quinta das Flores, Coimbra
  • Escola Secundária D. Sancho, Elvas
  • Escola Secundária João de Deus, Faro
  • Escola Secundária Santa Maria Maior, Viana do Castelo
  • Escola Secundária Luís de Freitas Branco, Paço de Arcos

Romania: TBD
Spain: TBD
Ukraine: TBD
England: TBD

A young woman in a red hoodie presents a series of informative posters set up on a large modular red wall within a historic setting, as indicated by the terracotta floor and the surrounding architecture. The panels bear the logos of the Fondazione San Bonaventura and the San Lorenzo Maggiore Monumental Complex, displaying various infographics on digital themes, including "IA: influenza amplificatrice" (AI: amplifying influence). In the foreground, a dark wooden table holds binders and reference materials, suggesting a cultural outreach event or an educational exhibition.

Partners and the funder

DensityDesign Lab
DensityDesign is a research lab at the Design Department of Politecnico di Milano. DensityDesign’s research revolves around information visualisation, tackling the design challenges arising from the visual exploration and communication of social and cultural phenomena.

Tactical Tech
Tactical Tech is a Berlin-based non-profit organisation, which design and co-develop playful and forward-looking experiences, interventions, events and educational resources that invite people to think about how technology influences their lives and changes the world they live in. Since 2013, they have joined forces with a global network of partners and civil society organisations, collaborating at the intersection of technology, research, design and art on projects that promote conversations and encourage proactive solutions.

International Federation of Library Associations
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the global organisation for libraries of all sorts. With a mission to inspire, engage, enable and connect the global library field, it works as a platform for professionals from around the world to come together to exchange ideas and experiences and develop guidelines and standards to support the provision of excellent library services to all.

IFLA Library Networks who are part of this initiative:
National and University Library in Zagreb (Croatia); Czech National Library (Czech Republic); Estonian Librarians Association (Estonia); Association of Greek librarians (Greece); Associazione Italiana Biblioteche (Italy); Rede de Bibliotecas Escolares (Portugal); The National Association of Public Librarians and Libraries in Romania (Romania); Romanian Library Association (Romania); West University of Timisoara (Romania); Biblioteca Pública Municipal de Paterna del Campo (Spain); Ukrainian Library Association (Ukraine) and International Association of University Libraries (United Kingdom).

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