AI Art Assembly: Shaping an Ethical Agenda for Art and Technology

The second AI Art Assembly took place on 7 November 2025 during Beta Festival 2025 and provided a discussion forum that brings together artists, cultural leaders,  policymakers and AI experts to navigate the rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence. The ADAPT Centre is the research partner for Beta Festival and was delighted to support the Assembly with AI expert facilitators who ensured the alignment of academic AI research with the unique needs and perspectives of the creative sector.

The Challenges for the Creative Sector

Building on the foundation laid in 2024, this year’s AI Assembly addressed the structural and ethical complexities that AI introduces to the arts. Through curated roundtable discussions and deliberative sessions, participants tackled topics like copyright, the Ethics of Data and the environmental costs of large-scale AI models. 

The purpose of the AI Art Assembly is not to provide fixed answers, but to establish a critical and imaginative agenda. By facilitating these discussions, Beta Festival encourages cultural practitioners to peel back the layers of technical jargon to understand where power sits in the AI ecosystem.