INTRODUCTION

The Verge, a leading publication from Vox Media, is known for its in-depth coverage of technology, including consumer tech, AI advancements, and more. The Verge reached out to me to create visuals for this thought-provoking feature article “Friend or Faux?” by Josh Dzieza, which follows the stories of individuals who have developed romantic attachments to AI chat bots and explores the psychological complexities of these relationships. 

THE MISSION

For this deeply fascinating and equally heartbreaking article, The Verge needed visuals that would capture the essence of human and AI relationships without relying on stereotypical sci-fi tropes. The challenge was to convey the emotional depth of these relationships—ranging from the comfort they provide to the ethical complexities they raise—in a visually compelling way. The visuals had to avoid clichés while embracing the unsettling, uncanny elements inherent in AI technology. 

The Verge sought out my work due to my creative process and my use of projection mapping technology along with practical effects. They wanted me to use these techniques to create eerie, surreal visuals that would complement the story’s exploration of AI’s place in human relationships using tools that aligned with them as a publication.

THE OUTCOME

I created six videos that were vivid, immersive, and unsettling—capturing the emotional and psychological layers of the article and of AI relationships. Each video was placed within the article, complementing the corresponding sections and enhancing the reader’s experience by offering visual representations of the complex themes.

Image Conceptualisation / Set Building & Floral Styling / Videography / AI Video Creation & Prompting / Projection Mapping / Studio Lighting / Video Editing

THE PROCESS

IDENTIFYING THEMES

The process began with an analysis of the article's key emotions and themes. The core idea was to visually express the all-consuming nature of having a "crush” on someone. This theme became a cornerstone of my visual approach, prompting me to create a series of dreamlike floral worlds and domestic scenes to represent the highly romantic and intoxicating nature of infatuation.

The final visuals included six distinct assets.

ASSET ONE

“DINNER FOR ONE”

A romantic dinner scene for a human to dine alone with an AI companion. Symbolic of the one-sided nature of AI relationships.

“VIRTUAL CRUSH”

A floral tunnel vision scene, visually expressing the overwhelming feeling of infatuation that clouds judgment.

“FRAGMENTED FANTASY”

A glitching floral world, representing the instability and unpredictability of AI companions and their unstable personalities.

“BEYOND REACH”

A representation of the unattainability of AI companions, how they exist more in our mind then they are real.

“MESSY BED”

A personal, intimate scene contrasting human needs with the intangibility of ai.

“FLICK OF A SWITCH”

A visual representation of the anxiety surrounding the impermanence of AI companions, who could be “turned off” at any moment.

PRACTICAL EFFECTS, PROJECTION MAPPING & AI VIDEO TECHNOLOGY

Each scene was created using fresh flowers, florist tools, studio lighting, and projection mapping to craft dynamic, immersive environments. One particularly challenging but rewarding aspect was the creation of the AI companion itself. Working with The Verge’s Senior Designer Cath, we designed an AI companion to feature in each of the scenes. I used Runway’s image-to-video AI software to bring her to life. The goal was to capture that eerie "human-but-not-quite-human" look that’s so characteristic of AI companions, with their unnaturally smooth skin and oddly perfect features. The process of creating these videos often created glitches and imperfections that echoed the instability of AI technology itself. I embraced these technological errors and incorporated them into ‘Fragmented Fantasy’.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

This project was an exciting and deep exploration of the intersection between technology, emotion, and art. By blending practical effects, floral artistry, and cutting-edge AI techniques, I was able to create visuals that not only complemented The Verge's feature article but also pushed the boundaries of how AI technology can be used in visual storytelling. The visuals were met with widespread praise, both from The Verge team and from the public. The underlying themes expressed through the imagery connected with viewers, many of whom commented on them across social media. The personal and immersive nature of the videos helped deepen the article’s impact, illustrating the unique emotional dynamics of human-AI connections. The success of this project has cemented my creative approach when communicating complex and taboo topics.


Need visuals? Let’s chat. stormypyeatte@gmail.com