Diaromen

In this series I’m exploring how AI algorithms could see the world. I’ve developed an algorithm that focuses on parts of the world that have a certain level of detail. By subdividing the world in ever smaller parts where information density is high enough, the algorithm creates a specific abstraction of reality. By iteratively modifiying the code, I’m trying to find a balance between the deterministic output of the algorithm and aesthetical implications thereof.

The algorithm takes an image and divides it up in ever smaller parts. Parts that contain a lot of detail are divided more, creating a more fateful representation of that specific part of the image. In a sense, the algorithm pays attention to more detail where it matters most.

A way of measuring detail or information density is by using Shannon EntropyThis is a concept original from information theory and quantifies the average level of uncertainty or information of possible outcomes.. This is a mathematical function that describes the amount of information or “surprise” in a system. By using this function, the algorithm can decide which parts to subdivide and which parts to leave as is.