The “Ai or Nay? Artificial vs. Intelligent” exhibition at the Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar, which opened in January 2025, has concluded with great success. The exhibition drew significant interest from local visitors and welcomed several notable visitors, including the U.S Ambassador to Qatar Timmy T. Davis, Denise Amyot, member of the Qatar Foundation’s Board of Directors, and others.
“The Ai or Nay? exhibition exemplifies the growing influence of the Media Majlis Museum as a dynamic space where critical inquiry meets creative expression,” said Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar. “As the Arab world’s first university museum dedicated to media and communication, the Museum is shaping a new paradigm of cultural engagement in the region, one that centers community learning, interdisciplinary dialogue, and regional relevance. Its continued success reflects Northwestern Qatar’s mission to amplify global voices at the intersection of art, technology, and society.”
The exhibition delved into the evolving dynamic between human creativity and machine learning while examining the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence (AI) presents in contemporary journalism. Curated by Jack Thomas Taylor, curator of art, media, and technology at the Media Majlis Museum, it featured works by over 20 regional and international artists across disciplines. It featured 33 loaned artworks and 39 licensed digital content pieces, including visual arts, installations, and mixed media.
Through the shared vision of the curator and the participating artists, visitors experienced sketches morphing into digital artworks (Dream Machine by Jan Zuiderveld), robotic arms capturing their portraits (Time to Read by Patrick Tresset), and a 3D-printed nose telling stories through scent (Adnose by Adnan Ayub Aga). The exhibition compelled the audience to question, reconsider, and delve deeper into their inevitable connection with the ever-evolving realm of AI.
“As the Arab world’s first university museum dedicated to media and communication, the Museum is shaping a new paradigm of cultural engagement in the region, one that centers community learning, interdisciplinary dialogue, and regional relevance. Its continued success reflects Northwestern Qatar’s mission to amplify global voices at the intersection of art, technology, and society.”
Alfredo Cramerotti, director of Media Majlis Museum, said, “The success of Ai or Nay? shows just how timely and important these conversations around AI, creativity, and journalism are. We’re thrilled that the exhibition connected with many people and sparked meaningful discussions, not just here in Doha, but as part of a wider global dialogue.”
The exhibition comes in line with the Museum's mission of fostering critical engagement and providing a platform for conversations that challenge traditional boundaries. The exhibition has opened new doors in understanding how artificial intelligence intersects with art and journalism, marking a significant moment in the contemporary cultural landscape of Qatar and beyond.
After five successful years, the Media Majlis Museum now enters its sixth anniversary, continuing engagement with art and storytelling. With nine exhibitions to date, including highlights such as “The Limits of my language are the limits of my world,” “Ai or Nay exhibition,” and “From Vision to Reality,” the Museum has become a unique platform in the region for dialogue around art and technology. The Media Majlis Museum actively works to make the space more accessible for educational institutions and students to foster an understanding of art, encouraging students to engage with creative thinking beyond classroom education.
In addition to its regular exhibitions, the Media Majlis Museum has served as a forum for international engagement, hosting events such as the IKT Congress in partnership with NYU Abu Dhabi, active participation in the Web Summit, and fostering local and regional partnerships in Doha’s cultural landscape. These initiatives reflect the Museum’s vision and influence in bridging global perspectives and regional narratives, successfully contributing to Qatar’s creative ecosystem.
As the Arab world’s leading university museum, Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar is committed to fostering interdisciplinary learning and ensuring student involvement in curation, research, and programming for hands-on training. For the Ai or Nay? exhibition alone, over 12 student representatives were actively involved in its development. University museums are pioneering new ways to interpret collections for visitors, to use objects as teaching tools, or to deliver innovative programs to engage the communities in which they are located.
In the past, many were small, niche organizations, unknown to a few. Today, they are more relevant than ever and underscore the Museum’s role as a cultural hub that fosters deeper connections to contemporary issues while pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms and artistic expression.
Following the conclusion of the Ai or Nay? The Media Majlis Museum is gearing up for its upcoming exhibition in August 2025, which will explore the playful realm of ‘Internet Memes’ and their impact on digital storytelling and culture.
For more information on the exhibition or Museum, please visit mediamajlis.northwestern.edu or follow them on social media @mediamajlismuseum
