Pioneering AI Experiments: From Literary Works to Screenplay Creation
In Brief
This article delves into the initial forays of artificial intelligence into the realms of writing and screenwriting, showcasing innovative projects such as an AI-generated travelogue and the unique short film 'Sunspring'.
Ross Goodwin, the author and AI researcher behind the travelogue, is gearing up to conduct a follow-up experiment close to Paris, utilizing a classic Porsche to test how far AI has come in creative storytelling.
Recently, Goodwin launched an NFT collection titled 'NOW, THEREFORE, I' that bridges the worlds of photography and AI-generated prose.

As artificial intelligence captures global interest with tools like ChatGPT, tech companies are racing ahead in generative AI. This breakthrough is making inroads into nearly every area, including the creative arts, thus opening the door to fresh and exhilarating ways of artistic expression. But where did this journey really begin?
Six years back, an AI researcher and innovator embarked on a unique adventure with a writing machine designed to craft narratives based on his journey from New York to New Orleans. Ross Goodwin He modified a Cadillac to include a surveillance camera, GPS, microphone, and a clock, all wired to an AI writing device that churned out text on the move. As he drove, he witnessed the AI swiftly generating lines which printed onto long rolls of receipt paper for the backseat. This program was trained with a colossal database of 20 million words and information from Foursquare, allowing it to construct a narrative, often incorporating real-time location context.
The groundbreaking yet unedited AI-authored book, '1 The Road', was launched by Jean Boite Éditions in 2018, marking a significant moment in tech and literature. 1 The Road This book stood out as a remarkable experiment that ignited a profound discussion: Are machines on the verge of overtaking human creativity in light of swift technological changes? Should AI achieve human-like capabilities, including the nuanced emotional depth essential for art, it could drastically alter our traditional writing and publishing landscapes. Despite the book offering an intriguing experimental journey filled with more verse than narrative, its raw edition had its shortcomings. '1 The Road' was intended as a prototype, showcasing its imperfections, yet it didn’t raise alarms regarding AI potentially displacing human authors. Yet, here we are in 2023, and machines are advancing rapidly.
Goodwin disclosed his plans to Metaverse Post to recreate '1 The Road' in the vicinity of Paris, but with a new vehicle and setting. This new endeavor, scheduled for this month, will see him behind the wheel of a classic Porsche 911 as he navigates the streets of Versailles. Thanks to strides made in AI technology, the upcoming manuscript is anticipated to be more coherent and impactful. said Comparing the two narratives may provide insights into the progress technology has made in story creation. Regardless of the results, Goodwin's initiative is bound to provoke a fresh dialogue surrounding the fusion of technology with artistic expression.
'Sunspring' (2017): A Sci-Fi Short Film Crafted by AI
Goodwin has also ventured into the realm of screenplay writing powered by AI, featuring the short film 'Sunspring', which premiered in 2017 with Thomas Middleditch in a key role, under the direction of Oscar Sharp.
'Sunspring' is a brief nine-minute feature that was produced in just two days, showcasing a cast interpreting a screenplay generated by an AI named Benjamin, which was trained on a variety of sci-fi scripts to develop its own narrative. Although the AI lacks self-awareness, it skillfully dissected patterns and shaped the storyline based on prior feedback.
One of the standout moments in the film occurs when a character dramatically ejects an eyeball during a conversation. This bizarre scene unfolds as characters H and C discuss J, who then enters with an unsettling presence and frantic movements. J’s intense demeanor prompts H to suddenly spit an eyeball as he begins speaking. Sunspring The script woven by AI touches on themes of love, loss, interstellar journeys, and even hints at murder. The storyline is intricate yet disorganized, leading to superb acting that somehow leaves the audience puzzled over the film's core message or dialogue.
'Sunspring' serves as a demonstration of AI's potential to enhance the creative landscape, giving rise to new narrative forms. The synergy of human talent and artificial intelligence resulted in a storyline that is both elaborate and captivating, prompting audiences to ponder the future contributions of AI to film artistry. Considering the rapid evolution of AI tools, it’s thrilling to contemplate what similar projects might look like down the line.
NFTs Inspired by AI and Presidential Proclamations
Goodwin's recent project features NFTs focused on themes driven by AI, found on objkt.com. The series 'NOW, THEREFORE, I' engages with the interplay between photography and AI-generated narratives. During the Obama administration, from 2009 to 2010, Goodwin served as the chief ghostwriter for Presidential Proclamations. His project involves a striking high-resolution image of Pacific Ocean waves meeting a physical copy of a Presidential Proclamation that he then digitally erased. Subsequently, he employed specialized text-generating AI trained on authentic Presidential Proclamations to fabricate four NFTs, each accompanied by its own fictional proclamation text.
These proclamations aren't standard legal declarations; they arise from AI trained on genuine documents. Goodwin's initiative offers a thought-provoking reflection on the essence of presidential proclamations and their overarching significance.
He emphasizes that while AI can greatly aid the creative journey, it shouldn’t be deemed a full-fledged substitute for human artistry.
Goodwin has recently released an NFT collection Goodwin expressed in a 2016 blog post, 'When we teach computers to write, the computers don’t replace us any more than pianos replace pianists—in a certain way, they transition into our writing instruments, pushing us beyond mere writing. We evolve into writers of writers.'
In Goodwin's view, art itself embodies technology, with creators of easily reproducible works encouraged to delve deeper into original creations. He regards the concept of theft as nuanced, arguing that confining AI training to public domain works hampers its broader knowledge and capabilities.
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Creating Art with AI
To foster unbiased AI is crucial in various fields, especially the creative arts. By assimilating contemporary content, such as literature, movies, and music, AI can draw insights from a wide array of references, thus minimizing the potential for bias in its outputs. Nonetheless, this approach must navigate the complications presented by copyright laws, as employing copyrighted content without authorization carries legal ramifications.
Yet, amidst these hurdles, technology emerges as a potent ally in the pursuit of artistic innovation. It can facilitate tasks such as brainstorming, editing, and even composing entirely new pieces. By harnessing this technology, artists, writers, and other creatives have the opportunity to expand their horizons, producing works that may have once seemed unattainable.
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