From 8 to 10 May 2025, the serene island of San Servolo in Venice will become a vibrant crucible of thought, as over 180 scholars from across the globe converge for the Ethics and Aesthetics of Artificial Images (EA-AI 2025) conference. Organised by the Università Iuav di Venezia in partnership with the Venice International University, this landmark event promises to unravel the profound implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in an era where machine-generated imagery is reshaping the very fabric of culture, art, and society. As AI-generated content—from breathtaking visuals to intricate texts—sweeps through our world, it raises urgent questions about authenticity, creativity, and the boundaries of human endeavour. What does it mean to be an author in an age of algorithms? How do these technologies alter our perception, challenge legal frameworks, or reshape political and ethical landscapes? EA-AI 2025 will bring together some of the world’s most luminous minds to ponder these conundrums, delving into the philosophical, cultural, and societal ramifications of AI’s creative ascent.
The conference boasts an illustrious roster of keynote speakers, including Lev Manovich (New York University), a trailblazer in new media theory; Joanna Zylinska (King’s College London), a visionary exploring AI’s intersection with art; Neil Leach (Harvard University), a leading voice on AI and architectural design; alongside luminaries such as Matteo Pasquinelli (Università Ca’ Foscari), Antonio Somaini (Université Sorbonne Nouvelle), Neta Alexander (Yale University), and Francesco D’Isa. With over 140 presentations, the programme will probe the epistemological nature of AI-generated imagery, its transformative impact on authorship, and its far-reaching social, legal, and cultural consequences.
Far more than an academic gathering, EA-AI 2025 is a dynamic forum where philosophy, art, design, architecture, and social sciences converge to interrogate a technology that is as thrilling as it is challenging. Against the backdrop of Venice—a city synonymous with timeless beauty and innovation—this symposium will illuminate the delicate balance between AI’s potential and its ethical demands. It is a clarion call to reimagine creativity in a world where machines are not mere tools but collaborators in the dance of human expression. For those who see AI as a canvas for rethinking aesthetics and ethics, EA-AI 2025 is an unmissable rendezvous. Join the conversation and help shape the future of creativity, set against the evocative splendour of Venice.
