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Adversarial Robots as Creative Collaborators

Shayla Lee, Wendy Ju

TL;DR

This paper investigates whether adversarial robots can stimulate creative revision by artists, challenging conventional, complementary roles of creative machines. The author introduces UnsTable, a remote-controlled drawing desk that moves the paper to interfere with drawing, and conducts two small-scale studies (platform testing with 12 participants and a pilot study with 7) to observe effects. Findings suggest adversarial interaction can increase engagement, prompt changes to initial ideas, and position the robot as a collaborator in some cases, though many participants viewed it as a tool or obstacle; overall enjoyment was high and frustration moderate. Limitations include small, student-major samples and the Wizard-of-Oz setup; the work calls for automated, diverse, and scalable adversarial robotics research to redefine robots in creative practice.

Abstract

This research explores whether the interaction between adversarial robots and creative practitioners can push artists to rethink their initial ideas. It also explores how working with these robots may influence artists' views of machines designed for creative tasks or collaboration. Many existing robots developed for creativity and the arts focus on complementing creative practices, but what if robots challenged ideas instead? To begin investigating this, I designed UnsTable, a robot drawing desk that moves the paper while participants (N=19) draw to interfere with the process. This inquiry invites further research into adversarial robots designed to challenge creative practitioners.

Adversarial Robots as Creative Collaborators

TL;DR

This paper investigates whether adversarial robots can stimulate creative revision by artists, challenging conventional, complementary roles of creative machines. The author introduces UnsTable, a remote-controlled drawing desk that moves the paper to interfere with drawing, and conducts two small-scale studies (platform testing with 12 participants and a pilot study with 7) to observe effects. Findings suggest adversarial interaction can increase engagement, prompt changes to initial ideas, and position the robot as a collaborator in some cases, though many participants viewed it as a tool or obstacle; overall enjoyment was high and frustration moderate. Limitations include small, student-major samples and the Wizard-of-Oz setup; the work calls for automated, diverse, and scalable adversarial robotics research to redefine robots in creative practice.

Abstract

This research explores whether the interaction between adversarial robots and creative practitioners can push artists to rethink their initial ideas. It also explores how working with these robots may influence artists' views of machines designed for creative tasks or collaboration. Many existing robots developed for creativity and the arts focus on complementing creative practices, but what if robots challenged ideas instead? To begin investigating this, I designed UnsTable, a robot drawing desk that moves the paper while participants (N=19) draw to interfere with the process. This inquiry invites further research into adversarial robots designed to challenge creative practitioners.
Paper Structure (8 sections, 4 figures)

This paper contains 8 sections, 4 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Methods
  3. Platform Testing
  4. Pilot Study
  5. Results
  6. Platform Testing
  7. Pilot Study
  8. Discussion

Figures (4)

  • Figure 1: UnsTable is a remote-operable Eufy vacuum robot with a table attachment that moves while a participant is drawing on it. The wooden table is topped with chipboard and holds a piece of paper for the drawing.
  • Figure 2: Pilot study participant stands, ready to draw with a pen, in front of UnsTable on table. Note instrumentation.
  • Figure 3: A sample of drawings using various mediums (charcoal, pencil, pen) by eight participants from the platform test and pilot study who received an open prompt. Their drawings include abstract and objective subjects as well as other doodle experiments.
  • Figure 4: Six participants were asked to draw a robot as part of the pilot study, and they reported adding details and changing aspects of their drawings they wouldn’t have without UnsTable’s intervention.