We are delighted to run a new project in collaboration with Ambient Information Systems, supported by The Public Voices in AI Fund.

What makes AI uniquely problematic as a technology deployed across all sectors is its opacity. The spread of surveillance cameras in the UK was visible to all, especially those that might have felt targeted. But how do you know you’ve been sorted by a system that even its designers may not understand (AI outputs are often not ‘explainable’)? How do you converse with a neighbour when they see entirely different newsfeeds? The impact is greatest on those who are already vulnerable, possibly in multiple ways.

In the course of the project (October-December 2024) we have worked with two community groups in Tower Hamlets: teenagers from Streets of Growth and adult clients of MIND Tower Hamlets. We used our emergent, participant-led and creative approach to co-develop a film gathering the experiences, uncertainites and ideas for a better & more transparent deployment of AI in community settings. The film will serve as an advocacy tool supporting a better communication & cooperation between the AI policy makers and members of diverse communities.

This project was funded through Public Voices in AI through RAI UK grant reference EP/Y009800/1.

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Between 22 and 25 August 2024, The People Speak team – Mikey, Margot and our multilingual host Timna – joined the University of Bielefeld, Germany as part of the public relations project Ö for the CRC1646 Linguistic Creativity in Communication. Over the next 4 years the CRC aims to investigate creativity of the German language. To combine research and public relations the project is using Talkaoke – our interactive talk show format. This year we had the opportunity to run Talkaoke in 4 different contexts: from a facilitation workshop with the Linguistic PhD students to public events in an adult education centre, a festival and at a democracy event at one of the contested public spaces in Bielefeld.

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Since the beginning of year, we have been making our way into the heart of communities across Thurrock to engage local citizens in shaping the direction of cultural activities in the area. From January to May 2024, we popped up in Thurrock to host several Talkaoke sessions and get familiar with local attitudes, aspirations and anxieties. Together we explored what a shared process of cultural decision-making can look like and presented locals with the results of our collective creative brainstorming.

“It’s absolutely central to our work that Start Thurrock’s creative and cultural offer is shaped by residents. Working with The People Speak really helped us reach into communities and genuinely listen to what is important to local people and what creative projects they want for their area. Talkaoke is a really effective and inclusive way for creative ideas to be shared and expressed, giving Start Thurrock rich insights and understanding to act on” – Roxie Curry, Start Thurrock who commissioned the project.

We kicked off our series of Talkaoke sessions at the Chadwell St Mary’s Village Hall. The event saw attendees from neighbouring towns including Chadwell St Mary, Grays, and Stanford-le-Hope. We heard from citizens, young and old and as with all our Talkaoke sessions, the topics were chosen by the participants and ranged from local history to what a future sculptural monument in Thurrock might look like. There to capture the essence of our conversations was our talented visualiser Christopher Gerhardt.

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In August and September 2023, we have been collaborating with Knowle West Media Centre in Bristol. We explored Knowle West’s past, present and future as part of Future Festival. We celebrated with an exhibition of archival footage and local voices. Together, we honoured the rich history of Knowle West and shared our hopes for the years ahead.

Read a fragment of the blog post by Knowle West Media Centre, which you can find it in its entirety on their wesbite.

The day before Knowle West Fest 2023, The People Speak rocked up to Knowle West Media Centre in their van full of props to train up some Knowle West residents to be Talkaoke hosts. They ran two workshops to build confidence in talk show skills – one with young people and one with adults.

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