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 event highlights a growing movement to ground abstract technological discourse in physical, communal experiences. By integrating the finished pots into the opening ceremony of Oxford University’s Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, the project bridges the gap between ancient materials and future-facing ethics. It underscores the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue—bringing together opposing viewpoints in a shared creative space to foster empathy and common ground in the face of rapid AI development.