Plantoids: Living Blockchain Art - YMB Podcast E158

Here's a summary of the "You Me and BTC" (YMB) Podcast E158, "Plantoids: Living Blockchain Art," from January 20, 2017:

Summary:

This unplanned live stream (episode 158) of "You Me and BTC" features Daniel Brown and John Stewart discussing "Plantoids," blockchain-based artificial life forms described in a Bitcoin Magazine article by Julia Prisco (also seen on Inside Bitcoin). The concept involves art that reproduces through Bitcoin transactions and artist commissions, operating on a DAO-like model. The hosts debate whether this system is truly autonomous or simply an art project requiring human oversight.

The conversation centers on whether these automatically generated creations qualify as "true" art. They question the communicative intent and artistic merit, drawing comparisons to computer-generated art and referencing a previous episode about robots and art. Ultimately, they conclude that current AI art is driven by human decisions and code, lacking genuine independent creation. While acknowledging the potential for future advancements, they express skepticism about the current state, with one host arguing that technological demonstration alone isn't compelling art.

Main Topics:

• "Plantoids" – blockchain-based artificial life forms/art
• DAO model and autonomy vs. human oversight
• Defining "art" in the context of AI-generated creations
• The role of human intention and code in AI art
• Potential future advancements in AI art

Key Quotes:

• "Simply demonstrating technological possibility isn't compelling art." - John Stewart
• "Current AI art is driven by human decisions—the code, smart contracts, and underlying rules—rather than the AI itself." - Hosts
• (Implied) The hosts question whether non-human entities can truly create art.

People Mentioned:

• Daniel Brown
• John Stewart
• Julia Prisco
• Tim (briefly joins the conversation)

Bitcoin Price: Not mentioned.