“Practices of Prediction: Tarot as a Lens for Disrupting ML Eventfulness” presented by McFadden
Symposium:
Session Title:
- Divination and Chance (full papers)
Presentation Title:
- Practices of Prediction: Tarot as a Lens for Disrupting ML Eventfulness
Presentation Subtheme:
- Speculative practices
Presenter(s):
Abstract:
This paper explores how artists can engage Tarot as a lens for engaging and disrupting faith in machine learning ca-pabilities. Considering the increased casual adoption of ML systems, especially as embedded into social media platforms like Discord and TikTok, it explores how predic-tion as a form of knowledge production is engaged and naturalised via interaction. Tarot reading, as another form of knowledge production, was selected due to its produc-tive similarities and differences, which are used by the artist to unearth and examine faith in prediction. This is achieved via the creation and discussion of the creative project, “Practices of Prediction” (2023), an interactive installation in which audience members are encouraged to reach out into the unknown, turning to the ML system for guidance and advice, receiving in return a new generated Tarot card and reading. The paper explores three practice-based avenues for revealing and disrupting faith in prediction: manipulating prompt weighting, exploring the dynamics of ‘flipping and seeking’, and contrasting the concealment and revelation of predictive processes . The final section of the paper offers reflective insights on the implications of using Tarot as a creative lens, both for the artist and the audience. In this, it calls to the forefront what it means to collectively generate visions of the future with ML systems.
