From Science To Séance

Dorin Budușan and Sofía Fernández Blanco

In the inaugural session of the Slow AI project’s Material Playgrounds that took place on September 19, participants were invited to question the principles of algorithmic prediction by exploring different divination systems while creating their own.

The session focused on challenging conventional ideas of artificial intelligence by shifting attention to knowledge systems rooted in the intelligence of matter itself, such as magic and divination.

While magic and technology are often perceived as opposites, their histories are deeply intertwined. In fact, thinker Florian Cramer suggests that code itself is akin to magic — a form of “words made flesh,” creating alternate realities. Despite the rise of rationalism in the modern Western world, these so-called “rejected” knowledge systems have not only persisted but have seen a resurgence in recent decades. As long as science and magic remain in opposition, magic continues to offer a unique lens for critiquing techno-scientific worldviews.

This session also tapped into the growing conversation about how the rapid advancement of technology has led to a crisis of imagination. By revisiting systems like magic, we can explore alternative perspectives and unlock possibilities for imagining different types of worlds.

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