UAE Uses AI to Demonstrate Ancient Civilization Data in Digital Art

General view of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
General view of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
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UAE Uses AI to Demonstrate Ancient Civilization Data in Digital Art

General view of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
General view of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

ICD Brookfield Place proudly unveiled DATAMONOLITH_AI, an innovative, digital artwork conceived by the new media studio, Ouchhh. The piece is seen as a creative collaboration between machines and humans.

DATAMONOLITH_AI is a representation of some of the world's oldest available data from the Middle East in the form of a digital sculpture hosted by Dubai. It is a cultural convergence of ancient and contemporary cultures, and it was exhibited across the globe in major metropolitan cities such as New York, London, Taipei, Tokyo and Barcelona.

To create this piece, the studio used data from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period (9600–7000 BC) processed through a series of algorithms and powered by artificial intelligence.

This data is represented on four LED panels comprised of three billion pixels. Images collected from one of the world's oldest archaeological sites, located in Göbekli Tepe in south-eastern Anatolia, are translated into illuminations on a monumental obelisk, creating an ever-changing display that translates still images into a living sculpture.

The public art installation will be on display at ICD Brookfield Place until 23rd March 2021.

"Ouchhh discovers the hybrid spaces of the virtual and physical worlds as a combined environment that redefines the future of art in 21st century with DATAMONOLITH_AI. Ouchhh's main goal is not just to create an iconic landmark but also to create a data-driven public artwork to inspire and create a sense of marvel to everyone who experiences it. Data as paint, algorithm as a brush," said Ferdi Alici of Ouchhh.



TikTok Restores Service, Thanks Trump

In this photo illustration an iPhone displays a popup message on the social media platform TikTok on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
In this photo illustration an iPhone displays a popup message on the social media platform TikTok on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
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TikTok Restores Service, Thanks Trump

In this photo illustration an iPhone displays a popup message on the social media platform TikTok on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
In this photo illustration an iPhone displays a popup message on the social media platform TikTok on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)

TikTok said on Sunday said it was restoring its service after President-elect Donald Trump said he would revive the app's access in the US when he returns to power on Monday.

The statement came after US users reported being able to access the Chinese-owned service's website while the far more widely used TikTok app itself did not appear to be immediately available.

"In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service," TikTok said in a statement that thanked Trump for "providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties (for) providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive."

TikTok stopped working for its 170 million American users late on Saturday before a law shutting it down on national security grounds took effect on Sunday. US officials had warned that under Chinese parent company ByteDance, there was a risk of Americans' data being misused.

Trump said he would "extend the period of time before the law's prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security."

"I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture," he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said the executive order would specify there would be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before his order.

Trump had earlier said he would most likely give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban after he takes office, a promise TikTok cited in a notice posted to users on the app.

"A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned," a message notified users of TikTok, which disappeared from Apple and Google app stores late on Saturday.

Even if temporary, the unprecedented shutdown of TikTok is set to have a wide-ranging impact on US-China relations, US politics, the social media marketplace and millions of Americans who depend on the app economically and culturally.