Brazilian Creative Industries Market

Hello Fortaleza! I'm in Brazil this week for MICBR2025, the Brazilian Creative Industries Market. Grateful to the Brazilian Ministry of Culture (Ministério da Cultura) and OEI Brasil for inviting me to join conversations linking artists, technologists and policymakers from across Latin America.

My session (AI in the Cultural and Creative Industries hosted by Porto Iracema das Artes) gave me an opportunity to discuss my last two years of workshops and projects with the arts and culture sector on AI.

This included reflecting on the emotion, overwhelm, and pain many feel regarding how AI trains on their creative work; how AI might meaningfully support neurodiversity; the rise of 'human washing' (particularly in visual commissions); and how generative AI is co-opting creative media (such as AI music in The Netherlands) to spread disinformation.

I also championed some of the fantastic work and research which has been taking place in the UK over the last year, including the publication 'Why Technology Needs Artists' (by British Council, Hannah Andrews + Aurora Hawcroft), and the 'Responsible AI Practical Toolkit' (by Arts Council England, Oonagh Murphy + Owen Hopkin). I touched on these alongside The Audience Agency's Let's Get Real: AI programme, and the 'AI Sector Support Example AI Policy' by Arts Marketing Association, both of which I was pleased to contribute to.

Finally, I spotlighted some artists working with AI who are producing fantastic work and critical perspectives, including Felicity Hammond, Eric Drass and Jon Rafman, whose work has truly impressed me this year.

A massive thank you to Laila Cury Jacinto Elias, Lilian Cardoso, Maya Mattiazzo, Thaíde and Nina Dutra de Oliveira. I couldn't have asked for a nicer first visit to this beautiful country!