Artist founders and figuring out what AI is really for

In this conversation, I speak to William Morgan and Sylvan Rackham, the Co-Founders of Restless Egg, an incubator for Artist Founders, about the intersection of art, technology, and innovation. They discuss the concept of the 'artist founder', the challenges faced by creative technologists, and the need for a supportive infrastructure to foster their ideas. The conversation explores the role of institutions, funding sources, and the future of technology, particularly in relation to AI. They emphasize the importance of agency in technology and the potential for artist founders to create meaningful experiences that go beyond mere productivity enhancements.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Restless Egg01:21 Artist founders04:18 Discovering the Community of Creators10:10 Key Players in the Artist Founder Ecosystem14:37 The Role of Philosophy and Technology20:31 Bridging Art and Technology25:32 Defining the Artist Founder28:24 The Future of AI and Experience29:20 The Role of Artist Founders in E-commerce32:41 Funding the Creative Frontier36:58 The Shift in Investment Perspectives41:03 The Future of Technology and Agency44:29 AI: Tool or Evolutionary Break?51:45 The Playful Nature of Innovation58:59 Empowering Agency Through TechnologyWhere you can hear more from William and Sylvanwww.restlessegg.comWilliam's substackSome of the organisations mentioned:AntikytheraRestless EggStrelkaMedialabSome of the people mentioned:Benjamin BrattonRefik AnadolDaisy GinsbergIan ChengOther resources referenced:Sam Altman blog post about ideas peopleMy post about Creative OutsidersA piece written by friend and collaborator, Danya ShultsAn artificial history of natural intelligence