“RAM shortage” is a series of paintings that reflects on ideas of the death of
autonomy, privacy and freedom. The series depicts the fracturing of personal agency and
choice, as well as a call to action to the viewer, to make a stand and protect their freedom to
act no matter how impossible the task may seem.
Video game imagery is used as a direct connection to the ongoing Random Access
Memory shortage in the computer component market spurred on by artificial intelligence data
centers, as well as a symbolic reference to the boundless freedom and agency that video game
fantasies provide. The references serve as a nostalgic nod to the past, specifically early 2000’s
technology and video game advancements, which provided unprecedented experiences that
were positioned to be synergic with humanity. Technological optimism and futuristic
aesthetics of the time exist in stark contrast to modern scepticism of AI technology, especially
prominent in younger generations entering the work force and beginning their independent
lives.
The series was heavily inspired by recent developments in the AI world, specifically
in regards to its potential use in mass surveillance, storing of personal data and possible
development of autonomous weapons systems. With my work, I wish to introduce the wider
public to current events and to create critical conversations about ethical issues that surround
the use and implementation of AI. As the evolution of AI moves at break-neck speed, it is a
necessary and current topic that must be discussed more frequently, as it will inevitably
impact us all.

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