The Chilean Art that Unveils the Hidden Infrastructure of Artificial Intelligence
    Inteligencia Artificial (IA)

    The Chilean Art that Unveils the Hidden Infrastructure of Artificial Intelligence

    Gianro Compagno
    2025-12-27
    5 min read
    The Chilean pavilion at the Venice Biennale, located in the Arsenale, recently surprised visitors with an installation that transformed a sixteen-meter steel table into a work of art. Small devices projected the image of a flowing stream on it, accompanied by a sixteen-minute video alternating images of wetlands, testimonies from locals, and technical plans of 25 data centers projected in Chile. These centers, essential for the functioning of artificial intelligence, consume enormous amounts of energy and pose environmental challenges. The work, titled "Reflective Intelligences," was inspired by the working table convened by the Ministry of Science in 2024 to develop the National Data Centers Plan (PDATA), aiming to position Chile as a digital hub in Latin America. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have installed or announced data centers in municipalities such as Cerrillos, Huechuraba, and Quilicura, where wetlands still resist urban encroachment. Architects Serena Ambrosio, Linda Schilling, and Nicolás Díaz, responsible for the installation, participated in the PDATA and sought to represent the lack of truly horizontal spaces to discuss the development of AI and data centers. Díaz, a member of the FAIR group, emphasizes the need for inclusive working tables. Ambrosio, an academic at Diego Portales University, points out that in the PDATA, some voices carried more weight than others, while territorial organizations have criticized the lack of information on the environmental impacts of these projects. Schilling, a PhD student at Goldsmiths, underscores that information about the potential impacts of data centers is insufficient and unclear for communities. In Venice, the team modeled each data center in 3D based on environmental impact studies and distributed them in the room, illuminated with green LED lights that evoked the constant activity of these infrastructures and the ease with which they gain approval in Chile. The installation is part of a process initiated years ago, where other artistic and architectural projects have sought to highlight the infrastructure that supports AI. In Quilicura, where Google installed its first data center in Latin America, the project "Entangled Wetlands" emerged, led by Ambrosio, Díaz, and researcher Marina Otero. They worked with local communities, digitally reconstructed the infrastructure, and proposed alternatives like visible pipes to show actual water consumption and reuse systems. Ambrosio recalls that, unlike libraries, data centers are inaccessible and little visible, even though they store relevant information for everyone. She proposes rethinking their integration into the territory to benefit communities. Schilling notes that, unlike the real estate industry, tech companies do not use visual resources to show the impact of their infrastructures, contributing to opacity. Díaz argues that art and architecture allow for addressing these complex systems through metaphors, facilitating public understanding. While the impact of AI on creative professions is debated, these projects demonstrate that art and architecture remain essential for questioning and reflecting on technology. Artist Jaime San Martín, along with Rafael Guendelman, presented a video in Venice exploring the relationship between technology, culture, and art. In their exhibition "5G" in Santiago, they used sculptures and animations to highlight the materiality of digital technologies, emphasizing that the supposed immateriality of the digital has a tangible impact on the ecosystem and communities. Another work, "The Artificial Preacher," recreated in Santiago's Plaza de Armas an AI-generated preacher, accompanied by an "Artificial Holy Bible" created with ChatGPT. San Martín reflects on the human agency behind technology and the importance of recognizing that AI is developed and used by people. Díaz concludes that art can be a powerful tool to address fears about job replacement by AI, positioning people as active agents. The installation "Reflective Intelligences" will be reconstructed in Chile in 2026, aiming to bring together communities, authorities, and the general public to discuss the future of digital infrastructure in the country.
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