The Trial of Superdebthunterbot
45 minute HD Video
2016
Narrative
A debt collecting company, Debt BB buys the student loan book from the government for more than it is worth, on the condition it can use unconventional means to collect debt. Debt BB codes an algorithm to ensure fewer loan defaulters by targeting individuals through the use of big data, placing job adverts on web pages they frequent. Superdebthunterbot has a “capacity to self-educate, to learn and to modify it’s coding sequences independent of human oversight” (Susan Schullppi, Deadly Algorithms). Five individuals have died as a result of the algorithm’s actions, by partaking in unregulated medical trials. In the eyes of the International Ether Court, can the said algorithm be found guilty?
Background
The Trial of Superdebthunterbot was first performed as an artwork on the opening night of the exhibition Collaborate! at Oriel Sycarth Gallery. The work was performed by lawyers; Oana Labontu Radu and Lauries Elks who wrote the prosecution and defence speeches and TV actor, Mark Frost who was the judge. The jury was made up of the audience on the opening night of the exhibition. The algorithm is housed in a see - through computer made by artist Daniel Dressel which sits in the dock.
In May 2016, the performance was restaged at Southwark Crown Court and a 45 minute film of the same title was shot. The film was premiered during the Goldsmiths MFA show.
For press about the work please have a look at these links
http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/algorithm-trial-manslaughter-performance-art
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/2016/05/05/2160943/artificial-intelligence-on-trial/
http://www.lawyer-monthly.com/2016/07/artist-puts-algorithm-on-trial-for-manslaughter/
http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/could-a-computer-algorithm-be-put-on-trial—1325901ould a computer algorithm be put on trial?
Exhibitions of ‘The Trial of Superdebthunterbot’
Contingent Systems, Illingworth Kerr Gallery , Alberta University of the Arts 2021
Virtual Station, Seoul, South Korea 2021
What will be. From the Future to the Futures Kunsthaus Graz, Austria 2021
Le GRANIT, scène nationale, Belfort 2020
‘100 years of Justice’ Touring exhibition Magistrates UK 2020
Double Feature Schirn Frankfurt 2020
‘Nemo Festival’ 104 Paris 2019
‘Artistic Intelligence’, The Mori Museum, Tokyo 2019
‘Artificial Intelligence’ - Hannover Kunstverein, 4.5.19-28.6.19
Open Codes - Living in Digital Worlds ZKM Karlsruhe Germany 19.10.17 - 4.4.19
CURATING THE URBAN. On Spatializing Urban Conditions, HALFWAY, Vienna 2019
The Ministry of Justice and Consumer Affairs, Berlin until August 2019
‘Soft Algorithms’ Centre de Cultura Comtemporania del Carme, Valencia, Spain.2018
The Potsdam Film Museum, Berlin 2018
Impact Festival, Utrecht 2018
Invites programme. Zabludowicz Collection. 2017
Artificial Intelligence conference Liverpool John Moores University. 2017
Folkestone Triennial Fringe - Modern Language institute. 2017
The Art and Law Sessions - Sussex law School 2016
CONFERENCE “ALGORITHMS, DATA, DEMOCRACY” Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, Berlin 2016
Art and Theory Lab - University of Westminster, London 2016
Queen Mary University of London - Film and Media, London 2016
Centre for Technology, Ethics Law & Society King’s College London 2016
‘The Trial of Superdebthunterbot’, performance @ Southwark Crown Court, London 2016
Collaborate - Oriel Sycharth Gallery, Wrexham. 2015
I have written an article about ‘The Trial of Superdebthuntebot’ for Afterimage. Have a look at the PDF here
Court drawing of the performance at oriel Sycharth. See the artist book made to document the performances and trial with a transcript and seven court drawings by Helen Knowles and Liza Brett.
Court drawing of the trial. See the artist book made to document the trial with a transcript and seven court drawings by Helen Knowles and Liza Brett.
Documentation of the performance of The Trial of Superdebthunterbot. First performed at Oriel Sycarth Gallery 2015
The Trial of Superdebthunterbot,
Kunstverein Hannover installation view.
45 minute film, laminate ply and leatherette jury bench, court drawings.
2016