K.I. – Kasperl Intervenes was a show by and with Andreas Pfaffenberger at the Digithalia festival 2024, which was an integration of modernity and tradition. As Kasperl is an iconic puppet character in German-speaking countries, in this show, he was portrayed as an AI, prompting the question: is Artificial Intelligence truly intelligence?
The show followed the same format as a traditional Kasperl show, with Andreas Pfaffenberger interacting with the puppet in a comedic manner. At times, he did an exceptional job, especially when simulating the voices of deceased individuals like Falco or his Grandmother. This aspect aimed to demonstrate how advancements in artificial intelligence, such as speech synthesis or voice cloning, enable the simulation of voices while also critiquing the ethical implications.
Personally, I found it challenging to discern any distinct virtual theater elements in the show, despite the portrayal of Kasperl as an AI. The performance lacked sound or music, and the lighting consisted solely of natural light from the salon, emphasizing the impact these elements can have on enhancing the audience’s experience.
In general, the concept of treating a puppet as a chatbot, devoid of true life but responsible for delivering output, and considering it as a living being, provided a fertile ground for creating an immersive show. However, as a sound designer and musician, it sparked ideas in my mind while i was watching it about how the show could be further enhanced through collaboration with other disciplines, which could be considered for future performances.
Andreas Pffafenberger with the Artificially Intelligent puppet
