Interview with Annemiek Mi-Jin de Groote and Nanna Kassenaar – members of the AICON movement, guest speakers at the Humane Conversations event on the Interplay of AI and Art, 1 July 2025
- Hi AICON! Could you tell us a bit about what AICON is about?
Thanks for asking! The ‘radicareful’ AICON movement connects citizens, artists, and researchers in an exploration of the social-beneficial potential and challenges of AI. This collaborative project focuses on empowering communities, allowing citizens to discover what defines their environment and how they engage with the world.
- What was the motivation behind starting the AICON collective?
Is it art? Is it science? Or is it citizen participation? AICON is everything. AICON is about co-creation of concepts that do not fit within those traditional demarcated frameworks. We hope that this will ultimately contribute to the democratization of AI, making AI understandable and accessible to all. Moreover, AICON encourages all social stakeholders to be open to a different way of working together and to explore how we want to organize our society together and what values we value. AICON is an initiative of Erasmus Professor Moniek Buijzen.
- Annemiek Mi-Jin and Nanna, you don’t see yourselves as artists. How would you describe your role in AICON?
Contemporary society loves labels, which we understand. It is a coping mechanism of trying to make sense of what is what or who is who. However, we try to stay away from labels, as they may define but also contain the risk of limitation. As we are involved in every part of AICON, which is a collective, a coalition of the willing, perhaps founding mothers is a way to describe our role. As all mothers we are – among many other things – Chief operating Officer (orchestrating complex processes, managing diverse personalities, ensuring all systems run smoothly sometimes under tight deadlines and emotional volatility), Strategic Leader (nurturing long term development while handling short term crises, balancing budgets, negotiating peace treaties, motivating team members with empathy), Head of Culture and Wellbeing (cultivating a safe environment where everyone can grow, fail and thrive without fear).
- In your philosophy, you aim to challenge norms, spaces and existing systems, such as the structure of academic events like Humane Conversations. What does this mean for you and why do you want to do this?
At AICON we created a lexicon of words that may or may not (yet) exist but carry legitimacy and represent the underlying mechanisms within the AICON approach. In answer to your question, here Quobvious would apply: questioning the obvious. Reflecting on why systems and structures are shaped as they are, and whether this truly serves us.
Challenging norms, spaces and existing systems – particularly in context like academic events – is about reclaiming meaning, presence and authenticity in environments that often prioritize form over substance, hierarchy over dialogue and performance over connection. Traditionally structured systems can become echo chambers.
- You get to work with a lot of different people, and often get access to spaces that others cannot, such as hospitals and academic conferences. How do you gain this trust from people and institutions?
We collaborate with many institutions, but remain flexible and independent ourselves. Being a small unit ‘from the outside’ we represent an in between space. A safe space to find each other to experiment, to exchange. We aim to follow our methodology. Continuing our communal journey by being open, sharing our own uncertainties or vulnerabilities and embracing the unknown. The process is as important as the tangible outcome, which is always there.
Nogonda: no ego, no agenda. Releasing our own ego and agenda to truly collaborate.
Radicareful: transforming systems without harm or sacrifice by empowering people to grow and thrive and treating each individual with the respect and care they deserve
Cocreatopia: the importance of complete, coordinated co-creation: always collaborate, for that is the only true way to unite all perspectives. An ecosystem where all minds matter, every partner plays their part, giving and taking what is fit.
- In your project at the NEMO Science Museum, you worked with kids on engaging with AI technology. In your opinion, is there any difference between the way in which kids and adults interact with AI? Why do you think it is important that we also hear children’s perspectives of AI?
There is indeed a clear difference between the way in which children and adults interact shaped by cognitive development, expectations and familiarity with technology and/or social conditioning. Children are growing up with AI, and shaping its future. Adults need to understand the younger generations’ experiences to design ethically and wisely.
- Thank you very much for the interview Annemiek Mi-Jin and Nanna, any last words or reflections you’d like to share with our audience?
https://www.eur.nl/media/2025-04-aicon-digitaleversie
It is a digital version of a publication called AICON: Showcasing a Radicareful System, featuring contributions from many diverse voices, each of whom has played a meaningful role in the process. Uniquely crafted, it reflects our collective learnings, different perspectives, encouraging us to step out of our comfort zones, sharing inspiration that has shaped AICON.
Is it a book? A pamphlet, a report, a manifesto, a promo, a notebook? Is it a work of art, of science, society? Or is it a conversation piece to share with others? It’s all of the above. And above all, it is an open invitation to engage.