What can 160-million-year-old clay tell us about AI and ethics? Inside Es Devlin’s tech and pottery summit

Artist and stage designer Es Devlin convened a diverse group of AI researchers, tech experts, and academics at the Oxford Kilns for a unique summit blending pottery with ethical debate. Participants engaged in the tactile process of shaping 160-million-year-old Jurassic clay while discussing the moral implications of artificial intelligence, ranging from the Turing test to Isaac Asimov’s laws. This collaborative workshop serves as a precursor to Devlin’s upcoming installation, "360 Vessels," created in partnership with composer Nico Muhly.

The Artsy AI Survey 2026: What Galleries Really Think About AI in the Art World

Artsy has released its 2026 AI Survey, capturing the perspectives of over 1,000 galleries worldwide on the integration of artificial intelligence into the art ecosystem. The report details how galleries are currently using AI tools for operations, marketing, and sales, while also revealing their cautious optimism and significant concerns about its impact on artistic authorship and market dynamics.

Massive Cache of 42,000 Pottery Shards Reveals Daily Life in Ancient Egypt

Archaeologists from the University of Tübingen and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities have unearthed a massive collection of over 42,000 inscribed pottery shards, known as ostraca, at the ancient site of Athribis. The shards, dating from the 3rd century B.C.E. to the 11th century C.E., contain tax receipts, religious texts, school exercises, and personal notes written in Demotic, Greek, Hieratic, Coptic, and Arabic scripts, offering an unprecedented window into the daily lives of ordinary people.

MCA Australia accepts NFTs as payment for entry to exhibition on Art and Artificial Intelligence

The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) has announced it will accept Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) as a form of payment for entry to its upcoming exhibition focused on the intersection of art and artificial intelligence. This experimental initiative allows visitors to utilize digital assets to gain access to the museum, marking a significant integration of blockchain technology into the physical museum experience.

Biennale Tecnologia Begins in Turin: Five Days of Theater, Performance, Artificial Intelligence, and Distorted Futures

A Torino inizia la Biennale Tecnologia. Cinque giorni tra teatro, performance, intelligenze artificiali e futuri distorti

The Biennale Tecnologia has launched in Turin, featuring over 120 events across 20 venues, including lectures, exhibitions, and a significant performing arts program. The festival utilizes theater and audiovisual performances to translate complex technological themes—such as artificial intelligence, environmental infrastructure, and ethics—into accessible narratives. Key highlights include Marco Paolini’s exploration of the Po River at OGR Torino and the play 'Retrofuturo,' which uses a comedic time-travel premise to critique societal reliance on algorithms.

artificial intelligence ai art galleries report 1234777334

A new report by the art industry network First Thursday reveals that 84 percent of commercial galleries are now using artificial intelligence in their daily operations. Despite this widespread adoption for tasks like drafting press releases, translation, and market research, only 8 percent of these institutions have formal policies governing AI use. The study, which surveyed 103 gallery professionals globally, highlights that most AI integration is happening informally through staff using personal accounts rather than through leadership-driven strategy.

Hardwiring Change Survey 2026

hardwiring change survey 2026 2749648

Artnet and the Association for Women in the Arts (AWITA) have launched the second edition of their global research initiative, the Hardwiring Change survey. This project aims to collect comprehensive data from thousands of arts professionals regarding pay gaps, leadership representation, career mobility, and workplace conditions. The 2026 iteration introduces a new focus on how emerging technologies, specifically artificial intelligence, are impacting gender equity and professional advancement within the industry.