If AI needs a publicist, Refik Anadol wouldn’t be a bad candidate. The Turkish-born professor and artist sees artificial intelligence as a boon to the world, not just through greater efficiency and scientific advances, but as a new conduit to create beauty. His newest project, along with co-founder Efsun Erkılıç, is Dataland, a 20,000 square foot museum of AI-generated art opening next year in downtown Los Angeles — and it places his faith in the technology front and center.
Dataland’s installations are drawn from its exclusive Large Nature Model, a prototype that only uses data from the natural world and was sourced with records and images from the Smithsonian, London’s Natural History Museum, and the Cornell Lab of Orinthology. The nature-first emphasis is a running theme with Dataland, which conducted its AI research via Google servers running on renewable energy.
As Anadol tells Mashable, he hopes his museum encourages patrons and tech companies to prioritize sustainability. The artist — who is one of the preeminent leaders of AI art and has exhibited pieces at MoMa and the Centre Pompidou-Metz in France — answered more of our questions on his vision for Dataland and his optimistic view of AI's potential.
Mashable: Let’s start with the basics. How do you define AI art?
Refik Anadol: For me, AI art is much more than a tool — it’s a creative collaboration between human imagination and machine intelligence.
When I work with algorithms and data, I’m not just trying to generate something new; I’m exploring the limitless possibilities that arise when humans and machines come together to create. It’s a practice that breaks down the boundaries of traditional art. It offers fresh perspectives on how we perceive creativity and the role of technology in shaping our world. This fusion of human intuition and machine intelligence allows us to push the boundaries of artistic expression and see the world in ways we’ve never imagined before.
Tell us a bit about Dataland’s AI model, the Large Nature Model. How does it differ from most previous models, and how does it work?
The Large Nature Model is unique because it is the world’s first AI model trained solely on data from the natural world, using information from institutions such as the Smithsonian and London’s Natural History Museum. Unlike other large language AI models that are trained on human intellect and reasoning, this model is trained on nature’s inherent intelligence. The goal of our model is to capture the essence and complexity of the natural world and to generate unique art pieces.
The model also emphasizes ethical data collection and transparency. As the creators of the model, we secured permission for all of the scientific materials we used to train the model and ensured that the model was trained using renewable energy. The Large Nature Model also goes beyond visual art by incorporating other sensory elements, such as sound and scent.
How did the collaborations with institutions like the Smithsonian and the Natural History Museum of London come together? Was there any resistance to them allowing their data to be used?
Collaborations with institutions like the Smithsonian and the Natural History Museum of London began with a shared passion for blending art, technology, and archival data. I wouldn’t say there was resistance, but, instead, an eagerness on their part to learn more about the ethical applications of AI before fully collaborating, and we deeply appreciated that.
Every institution should question and learn — this push for greater digital literacy benefits everyone. It also challenges practitioners like myself to rethink, revise, and clarify our approaches, ensuring that the use of AI is both responsible and purpose-driven.
By presenting a creative vision aligned with their educational missions and addressing concerns around data sensitivity, any initial hesitation was transformed into trust. These collaborations not only advanced the field of AI art, but also helped enhance public engagement with the institutions’ collections, showing the powerful potential of data when used thoughtfully and ethically.
Dataland presents AI as an advancement to be celebrated as well as studied. What do you say to those who only have negative or fearful impressions of the technology?
At Dataland, we truly believe that AI is an incredible opportunity — something to be celebrated, explored, and studied. I understand that some people may have fears or negative impressions of the technology, and that’s exactly why we created Dataland as a space for open dialogue and discovery. It’s a place where we can explore AI’s immense potential to enhance creativity and connect us with new forms of art, rather than seeing it as something to be feared.
We believe in the power of education, transparency, and ethical data practices. By showing how AI can be used responsibly, in ways that are environmentally conscious and human-centered, we hope to shift perceptions. Our goal is to demonstrate that AI isn’t here to replace human creativity, but to collaborate with it — opening up entirely new artistic possibilities.
It’s my hope that DATALAND can inspire people to see AI not just as a tool, but as a creative partner that can unlock new ways of thinking and engaging with the world around us.
With the Large Nature Model and your studio’s eco-friendly servers, Dataland puts environmental concerns front and center. How can tech companies be convinced to make sustainability a priority?
At Dataland, we believe that environmental sustainability must be at the heart of technological progress, especially with innovations like AI that impact the entire globe. With the Large Nature Model and our studio’s eco-friendly servers powered entirely by renewable energy, we’re committed to demonstrating that technology can coexist with environmental responsibility.
To truly make sustainability a priority across the tech industry, it’s essential for companies to collaborate not only with experts within their sector but also with researchers, global organizations, and policymakers outside of it. This is a technology that touches every part of the world, and it requires a large-scale, global approach. It’s about creating a shared vision. By prioritizing these values, we can encourage the tech industry to adopt practices that aren’t just beneficial in the short term but sustainable in the long run.
