As digital and AI-generated representations become almost limitless, physical objects may acquire new meaning. Through the work of Denise Buisman Pilger, The Return of Material Culture explores materiality, provenance and the growing value of things that actually exist.
Artificial intelligence can reproduce appearances with extraordinary precision. But can it reproduce the history of making? Through the work of Denise Buisman Pilger, The Human Hand explores why material, uncertainty and physical process may become increasingly important to the value of art.
From the bark of the paper mulberry tree to contemporary abstract art, Kozo tells a story of patience, transformation and material intelligence. Through the work of Denise Buisman Pilger, this centuries-old Japanese fibre reveals a different philosophy of creativity in the age of artificial intelligence.
For more than thirteen centuries, Washi has embodied patience, craftsmanship and material intelligence. Through the work of Denise Buisman Pilger, this remarkable Japanese paper reveals why creativity begins not with a blank surface, but with a material that already carries its own story.
Private foundations have shaped American society for more than a century. This series explores how philanthropy evolved from individual generosity into an enduring institutional force influencing education, science, healthcare, culture and democratic life across the United States.
Algorithms are no longer tools — they are becoming the invisible layer shaping decisions, markets and behavior. From personalized feeds to predictive systems, a new infrastructure is emerging that quietly defines what people see, choose and ultimately value.
At 5:42 a.m., the parking lot outside the factory in northern Ohio is already half full. Pickup trucks idle in the cold. Inside, the smell of burnt coffee mixes with the blue glow of smartphone screens.
The screens are already awake when the sun rises over central Iowa. Outside, the land lies still. A thin layer of mist floats above the fields where five generations of corn and soy once learned the rhythm of seasons by heart. Inside the farmhouse kitchen, there is no engine noise, no smell of diesel, no boots by the door.
While the world marvels at data centers and NVIDIA chips consuming electricity equivalent to small cities, a two-year-old sits on the floor of an ordinary daycare. Using no more than a dim household bulb’s worth of energy—20 watts—this child performs feats Silicon Valley can only dream of: learning a language, understanding sarcasm, recognizing a banana, whether drawn, plastic or half-eaten.
In recent years, artificial intelligence has increasingly captured the attention of both media and science. Yet experts like Chiara Gallese warn that using AI does not automatically lead to understanding. Her critique of ChatGPT’s use on the Riemann Hypothesis is striking: AI can sound fluent, but it cannot guarantee deep insight. The illusion of knowledge, she argues, may be the greatest risk of generative AI.
