网红头条

KENNESAW, Ga. | Apr 16, 2024

KSU, Georgia Tech combine forces in world鈥檚 first human/AI improvised dance performance

网红头条 Department of Dance, in collaboration with , will present 鈥淟uminAI: A Performance Collaboration of Dance and AI鈥� on Friday, May 3, at 8 p.m. The free performance is the first time that artificial intelligence鈥攊n the form of an avatar projected onto a screen鈥攚ill improvise movement with human dance partners. 

Funded in part by NSF Grant 2123597, the is the culmination of three years of work by at Georgia Institution of Technology (GT) and at KSU鈥檚 Department of Dance (KSU). 

Magerko, who heads the Expressive Machinery Lab at GT, explains that the avatar (a.k.a. agent) learns how to dance by dancing with humans. 

Using complex open pose software, the agent first segments users鈥� motion into gestures. After learning the gestures, the agent reasons about them using two different kinds of learning knowledge. The agent then uses this new knowledge to choose a relevant response to display or, in this case, to perform. In essence, the avatar is improvising alongside the human dancer. In real time, the avatar reacts and plays off human movements to determine its own movements. 

Knowlton, Associate Professor of Dance at KSU, says that some of the results have been unexpected and, occasionally, even funny. 鈥淪ometimes, the agent responses to the human are not exactly what you would expect鈥攂ecause it isn鈥檛 a human鈥攕o it can bring elements of surprise and humor. The avatar is full of color in its design, and sometimes motion trails linger from its limbs,鈥� she explains. While some students took to the task right away, a few others had to warm up to the idea of dancing with a machine. 

They had plenty of time to do so, though: Knowlton brought the software into the spring Dance Improvisation class. Students then helped train the avatar; it was an interesting way to create improvisational material. 

After extensive training, the avatar becomes a digital partner who can respond to human movement with its own artificially intelligent power. 鈥淚n this performance, we are using AI to respond to human movement, and actually co-create together, in the moment,鈥� emphasizes Knowlton. 

The line between human and non-human is blurred in this unique performance. Researchers hope that it will spur participants to examine their relationships with AI-based technology and how it can be expressive, social, and playful. 

鈥淟uminAI: A Collaborative Performance of Dance and AI鈥� will premiere on Friday, May 3, 8 p.m., at the KSU Dance Theater on the Marietta campus. are not required for this free event, but seats are first come, first serve. 

--Kathie Beckett