AI-Based Speculative Design Concept

Problem Statement

Speculative design projects a possible future without claiming to be realistic. Thus, using speculative design is a demonstrative way to criticize new technologies, inventions and general advancement. The more frequent usage of AI technology opens up a whole new world of possibilities but also of consequences for the user and the general public. With the use of speculative design, a concept should be created that shows how AI could be used in the future and how it affects the environment around it. Aspects like realism or practicability are less important than portraying a message with the created designs.

Idea and Concept

Two groups created individual ideas.

The LivingGuard is an app that supervises the user to live healthier and longer. It has access to the health parameters of the body and can calculate your remaining time to live. The worst-case concept makes the app omnipotent and forces the user to only eat healthier food and schedules only healthy activities than for example social events with friends.

Your next best friend is healthier, cleaner and more configurable than its biological counterpart – and it has bluetooth. This is the basic gist of the Rodog, a product concept made with Speculative Design. We use the idea of the Rodog in order to entice discussions about machines as replacements for living beings and its implications. Can a machine really replace your dog? What does it mean for the dog to be configurable? What would happen with real dogs?

Implementation

The LivingGuard concept is portrayed through an advertising campaign consisting of posters and a commercial video. The posters only show the positive aspects of using the app. The negative consequences are only subtle. The video shows how the remaining time to live is updated in real time which is a less subtle hint at how the app is controlling the user.

The idea of the Rodog is presented with a website where you can buy it. The spectator becomes the user, because looking at our Speculative Design is equivalent with the steps you would take in order to buy a Rodog. Additionally we provide an advertising film. Reminding the viewer of real advertisement, we give him further help to accept the idea of the Rodog as a possible reality and not a concept. We showcase the features of the rodog with parallels to real consumerism and marketing of technology.