By Lily Essilfie

As we move closer to the future of technology, Artificial Intelligence seems to rear its elaborate head. There are a plethora of unknowns compared to knowns regarding the current state of AI.

On November 1st, Kinfolk Tech spotlighted Jazsalyn, an artist, researcher, and technologist trekking the world of Alternative AI while developing Ancestral Intelligence.

Ancestral Intelligence: Alternative AI by Jazsalyn took attendees on a comprehensive journey. During this workshop, I was introduced and guided towards a deeper understanding of Ancestral Intelligence and Alternative AI.

Jazsalyn presented in a manner that can only be described in three words: clear, informative, and digestible. Anyone who has never engaged in a discussion like this would definitely walk away with a substantial amount of foundational knowledge and intrigue.

AI Today

When most people think of AI, their thoughts center around ChatGPT and Grok. Despite our current perception of AI, the artist highlights a notable component—those generative models are not real AI. They are ploys designed by companies hoping to lure in investors; In other words, a cash grab.

What Is Ancestral Intelligence

When I think of Ancestral Intelligence, I think of all that is, or foundational knowledge that is collectively amassed and passed on. The exact definition(crafted by Jazsalyn through extensive research-based art practices) is the earliest forms of knowledge systems, philosophies, and traditions passed down from generation to generation within indigenous groups, their descendants, and diasporic communities.

Traditional AI, much like the rest of the world, centers on Western or Eurocentric thought. It takes for granted sapience passed on through cultural spaces, and discredits indigenous knowledge and history. For example, Jazsalyn included a documentary clip on the Dogon tribe, a group of people indigenous to Mali, to highlight the significance of Ancestral Intelligence in relation to AI.

The Dogon are notably known for their cosmology and astronomical understanding of the world above them. They possessed a deep awareness of the Sirius Star system and other celestial bodies. Their advanced knowledge in cosmic matters has stumped many professionals. It was not until the twentieth century that the Dogon people were vindicated for their sophisticated systems of astral understanding.

Unfortunately, intricate ancestral ways of life are not widely accepted as a valuable knowledge source until it is verified by the dominant and often oppressive Western structure. The Dogon people are a typical case of Eurocentric fat-checking to validate diasporic and indigenous society. In essence, ancestral knowledge connects the past with the present and serves as the backbone to all that will be, regardless of Western thought.

Jazsalyn’s Ancestral Intelligence Projects

The framework supporting Ancestral Intelligence can be tied to African knowledge systems and ideologies, which Jazsalyn showcases through her projects. The Reimagine Prototype is an algorithmic study refiguring lost indigenous and extraterrestrial memory. As we learned from the Dogon people, indigenous and cosmic matters can often intersect. Memory is also paramount to cultural survival, especially since collective memory serves as a communal bridge from ancestors to future descendants.

Natal Dimension, on the other hand, is a cinematic game that begins in space, then eventually ends in pre-colonial Africa. In this multichapter game, recovery is key. While so much indigenous and diasporic knowledge is either neglected or lost due to colonialism, Natal Dimension works to support interconnectedness through the restoration of beauty and power to Ancestral Intelligence.

She also introduced us to one of her past projects, A(spora). Reflective of her Afro-Carolinian lineage, A(spora) employs microscopic imagery of indigenous African plant species to flag the significance of ancestral agriculture and the regenerative capacity of various organisms. Some of the featured plant species include okra and indigo. Using collage, AR, AI, and 3D simulation, the artist, Jazsalyn, was able to encapsulate diasporic knowledge systems and African practices.

Warpmode

Even before the session began, an intimate and welcoming energy permeated the room. From start to finish, there was a sense of community. There were three separate tables and extra chairs for all attendees to join, observe, and interact.

Towards the end of this session, we played Warpmode, a collaborative world-building tool-kit created by Jazsalyn. Warpmode involves traversing and exploring speculative Black Metatheories: afrofuturism, afronowism, afrovoidism, and afropocalypse.

There were two decks on each table, and those at a distance drew closer, so we could play as a group. One person would draw, then we would discuss and share our thoughts on the contents expressed on the card. As we sat with each metatheory, we took a moment to ponder before responding. With every response, our current climate and socio-historical economic state were taken into consideration.

We discuss restlessness, counterculture to combat society’s need for toxic productivity, and the current reality of AI. Conversing about the world we live in and the world we could build emphasized the significance of community and the need for restoration of ancestral knowledge.

Conclusion

Technology will continue to grow, advance, and forever shift the world as we know it. However, to progress in the right direction, we need to pay homage to those who have come before us and their complex line of thought. Jazsalyn’s workshop broadens the scope of the seemingly irrefutable while ultimately exploring the meaning of Ancestral Intelligence and Alternative AI.