“Synthetic War” is an artistic and research project that explores modern warfare through videos generated by artificial intelligence (AI) and encapsulated in infinite visual (non)narrative sequences. The project examines how algorithmic warfare, conducted by drones, is perceived in the era of deepfakes, social media, and generative AI.
Composed of three distinct visual sequences, “Synthetic War” addresses various aspects of remote warfare. The first sequence, “Splash,” depicts unguided airstrikes in urban environments, illustrating the massive destruction caused by indiscriminate bombings. The second, “Kamikaze,” follows the pre-programmed path of kamikaze drones, highlighting the rigidity of automated systems and the impossibility of altering a mission once it has started. The third sequence, “Bugs,” emphasizes the challenges of identifying potential targets from an aerial view, thus revealing the dangers of dehumanization in modern conflicts.
Using an open-source AI model, Long Video GAN, specifically trained on military data collected online, the project explores the aesthetic and operational dimensions of contemporary conflicts. Additionally, in a time of hybrid warfare, where combat takes place both in the physical world and in the media and social networks, where the narrative and perception of conflicts are shaped, the project offers a profound reflection on the brutal realities of war in the digital age.
At a time when disinformation and military propaganda play a central role in the context of modern wars, “Synthetic War” juxtaposes the harsh realities of modern warfare with the dangers of deepfakes, tracing how, at the heart of contemporary conflicts, AI-distorted reality can be constructed and deconstructed by content creators and military influencers.
It underscores the crucial need to understand and address the influence of digital media and AI on modern conflicts, as these technologies increasingly blur the boundaries between reality and manipulation.
Marta Revuelta is a media artist and an interaction designer living and working in Geneva. She earned her Master’s degree in Interaction Design (Media Design) from the Geneva University of Art and Design, HEAD — Genève in 2018.
Fascinated by emerging technologies and their control mechanisms, she focuses her research towards the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the areas of security, surveillance systems, and techno-military ecosystems. Specifically, she is drawn to the ethical challenges as well as the drifts and risks associated with AI, making these ethical dilemmas the very core of her work.
