Humour as Resistance: Visceralizing the Environmental and Social Impact of AI through Humour-based Creative Practices

A research paper from arXiv titled "Humour as Resistance: Visceralizing the Environmental and Social Impact of AI through Humour-based Creative Practices" explores the use of humor as a creative method to highlight the often-overlooked environmental and social costs associated with artificial intelligence. The study, conducted by a group of designers and researchers, details a campaign that utilized graphics design, physical installations, digital content, and co-creation workshops to provoke collective reflection on AI's material impact. Drawing on event ethnography, surveys, and interviews, the researchers identify four roles of humor-based creative work within human-computer interaction (HCI).

Why it matters

This research highlights an innovative approach to engaging with complex issues like the societal and environmental impacts of AI. Understanding how humor can be leveraged to increase awareness and provoke reflection on technological externalities is crucial for fostering more responsible innovation and public discourse. It provides insights into communication strategies that can counter public helplessness and drive collective action regarding technology's broader implications.

Key insights

• AI's growth incurs environmental and social costs that are frequently obscured by mainstream narratives.
• Traditional acknowledgments of AI's negative impacts are often accompanied by a sense of helplessness.
• Humor-based creative practices can serve as an effective tool for surfacing the material impacts of AI infrastructures.
• A multi-modal campaign involving graphics, installations, digital content, and workshops was used to engage the public.
• The research identifies specific roles of humor-based creative work within the context of HCI for provoking collective reflection.

Source

arXiv — Computers and Society — https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.07485