The Asimov Institute

The Asimov Institute - Artificial Creativity & Constraint is a non-profit AI research institute dedicated to exploring the relationship between deep learning and creativity. The organization publishes foundational neural network research, advises on the societal and business impacts of data and AI, and develops tools for the creative industry—including architects, graphic designers, fashion couturiers, marketers, and music producers. Its work emphasizes automated novelty as a value driver across multiple industries, with projects and teams focused on advancing creative applications of AI.

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Overview

• Mission: Investigate and harness the interplay between neural networks, creativity, and constraint.
• Focus areas: fundamental neural network research, societal/business impact of data/AI, and development of creative tools.
• Audience: researchers, designers, architects, fashion, marketing, music producers, and other creative professionals.
• Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands; operates as a non-profit research institute.

Projects and Initiatives

• Neural Network Zoo: A repository and exploration of neural network architectures and their creative applications.
• Inverse Surveillance AI: Research and development at the intersection of privacy, ethics, and AI-enabled creativity.
• Inverse Surveillance AI Hackathon 2021: Collaborative event exploring AI for privacy-preserving or privacy-aware creative solutions.
• Case Studies and Blog: Publications and discussions on practical AI creativity challenges (e.g., Industry-case studies like Schiphol Airport CO2 emissions analysis).

Team

• Director & Researcher: Stefan Leijnen
• Deep Learning Researchers: Fjodor van Veen, Juliette Petra Rose van der Laarse, Noah Neuman, Marcel van Dijk, Tomás Veloz Gonzalez, Amber Jae Slooten, Daniel Karavolos
• Designers/Artists/Producers: Geck-o (Architect & Designer, Producer & DJ), Josh Bacigalupi (Installation Artist)
• Support/Advisory: Team members contribute across research, design, and creative production.

How to Engage

• Research collaborations: Partner with academia or industry to advance AI creativity research.
• Tool development: Contribute to or license tools aimed at enabling creative professionals to apply AI more effectively.
• Events and workshops: Participate in hackathons, talks, and case-study sessions to explore creative AI applications.
• Publications: Read and cite published papers and blog posts on neural networks and creative constraint.

Safety and Ethics

• Emphasis on responsible AI: Investigating societal impact, privacy considerations, and ethical implications of AI-enabled creativity.
• Inverse Surveillance focus implies balancing innovation with privacy-preserving approaches and critical analysis of surveillance technologies.

About the Organization

• Non-profit AI research institute focused on the nexus of deep learning and creativity.
• Engages with communities in architecture, graphic design, fashion, marketing, and music to provide AI-enabled creativity tools and insights.
• Provides research outputs, case studies, and tooling to advance creative industries while considering societal impact.

Contact

• Email: [email protected]
• Address: The Asimov Institute, Nachtegaalstraat 26B, 3581 AJ Utrecht, The Netherlands

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Core Features

• Independent non-profit research institution focused on AI creativity and constraint
• Conducts foundational neural network research and publishes results
• Develops tools for the creative industries (architecture, graphic design, fashion, marketing, music)
• Explores automated novelty as a value proposition across multiple sectors
• Inverse Surveillance AI research and related hackathons
• Public blog and case studies on AI, creativity, and societal impact
• Community engagement through events, collaborations, and open publications