Will AI be able to reconstruct lost memories?

Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Pau Aleikum Garcia, media designer and founder of Domestic Data Streamers.

Pau is a media designer and the founder of Domestic Data Streamers, a Barcelona-based studio that has been creating immersive “info-experiences” and generative AI projects since 2013. His work spans over 45 countries, collaborating with institutions like the United Nations, Barcelona City Hall, and Citizen Lab. Pau is the chair of the Master in Data in Design program at ELISAVA University and is a guest lecturer at institutions including the School of Visual Arts (NY), the Hong Kong Design Institute, the Royal College of Art (London), and the Barcelona School of Economics. In 2021, he founded HeyHuman!, an artist residency program that merges music, journalism, and data to drive artistic research and social justice.

Pau sits down with Geoff to talk about how his organization is unlocking some of the most human experiences through synthetic memories. This initiative uses generative AI to recreate lost visual memories, particularly for refugees, migrants, and those affected by war or displacement. 

They explain how AI is not just shaping the future but also helping to reclaim the past, as well as the conversation that led to the creation of this technology. They also discuss ethical considerations of working with vulnerable communities. The project is also being explored in dementia care, where AI-generated memories are being tested as a tool for reminiscence therapy. 

In this episode:

0:00 Intro

0:52 What are synthetic memories?

2:18 The making of Domestic Data Steamers

3:39 Why images and physical spaces matter for cultural identity

5:00 Dystopian, futuristic idea

8:33 Working with migrant communities

9:47 Where this technology is being deployed

12:11 Low-cost and accessible technology

13:50 The importance of emotional connections

15:08 The images are artificially generated representations of memory vectors

17:30 Working with memories

21:40 Commercial interest

22:43 AI is never neutral  

23:55 Skeptic reader

30:09 Understanding the data

34:14 The cost of corruption

36:37 How to stay informed

40:41 The future of AI is bright

44:20 Domestic Data Streamers and the many projects

48:30 Accomplishments and the future

Connect with Pau:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauerrr/

Twitter: https://x.com/pau_aleikum

Website: https://www.domesticstreamers.com/

Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG