Jiang Fengnan's 'Seventy-Two Letters' and the TESCREAL Thought System

Description

The "Offbeat Study" organized by Mixed Initiative aims to promote some lesser-known technological narratives, broadening our imagination regarding progress, power, creativity, authenticity, and human life. At the same time, we hope to connect different viewpoints through open discussions to understand how AI profoundly impacts people's lives and consider how we can respond.Each session will explore a cultural work (e.g., short stories, comics, games) alongside a theoretical text (e.g., political manifestos, academic papers) to understand how people envision the future of technology and society.This time we will start from the Golem in Jewish legend and reflect on its relationship with today’s Agentic AI. Moreover, we will review the notorious eugenics and its ties to mainstream Silicon Valley thought.Let’s come together to feel through stories and see clearly through theory.■ Two readings, two discussion sessions ■Session One (August 8) — 'Seventy-Two Letters', Author: Jiang Fengnan (Ted Chiang)Jiang Fengnan is one of the most revered contemporary science fiction writers, adept at turning rigorous concepts into deeply human dilemmas. 'Seventy-Two Letters' is from the 2002 collection 'Stories of Your Life and Others' (Chinese translation: 'Your Life's Prophecy'). This work merges "Jewish mysticism" with "Victorian steampunk" in a suspenseful atmosphere, using scientific magical logic to explore technological development, automation ethics, eugenics, and class oppression.As the protagonist codes the Golem to automate labor, it’s hard not to draw parallels with the rapidly evolving language models and machine engineering today. The world in the story is redefining the boundaries of "what it means to be human"; likewise, our era is undergoing similar tensions: tech elites, developers, governments, and ordinary citizens are all vying for control over the direction and pace of AI development. Are we saving the future or accelerating our own alienation?Session Two (August 29) — 'The TESCREAL bundle: Eugenics and the promise of utopia through artificial general intelligence', Authors: Timnit Gebru & Émile P. TorresAI ethicist Timnit Gebru and philosopher Émile P. Torres proposed the "TESCREAL" theory in 2024. This research outlines the ideological system behind Silicon Valley's AI frenzy and traces its negative impacts on today’s world politics and class.TESCREAL binds together seven ideologies:How do these thoughts influence the public's perception of AI development? How can we discern which visions truly belong to us and which are merely imagined futures created by a select few?■ Event Details ■First Session Date: August 8, 2026 (Saturday)Second Session Date: August 29, 2026 (Saturday)Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PMHost: Leo Lau (Founder of Mixed Initiative, AI Product Designer)Location: Prologue Bookstore (68 South Street, Mong Kok, 7th Floor)Language: CantoneseParticipants: 12 peoplePlease note:■ Event Experience ■■ About Mixed Initiative ■Mixed Initiative is an experimental group promoting AI literacy in Hong Kong. We gather people from diverse backgrounds to learn, create, reflect, and practice together. Here, we maintain a critical perspective on technology and thought, while nurturing kindness toward others and life. We care not only about how to use AI but also about how individuals can stand, create, and coexist within technology.■ Ticket Costs ■(All prices include both sessions. Discounted tickets are available until sold out.)■ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ■Do I need to finish reading in advance?Can I join if I don’t have a technical or background in humanities, history, or philosophy?Which version should I read? Where can I find it?Does one ticket cover both sessions?What happens if it's fully booked?Will there be reminders before the event?■ Adverse Weather Arrangements ■To ensure participants' safety, if the Observatory issues any signal/notice within 2 hours before or after the event starts, the event will be canceled and rescheduled:Cancellation notifications will be sent via email, WhatsApp, and the Luma page.If only a "No. 1 Typhoon/No. 3 Typhoon/yellow rain/red rain/thunderstorm warning" is displayed while the weather remains unstable, the event will proceed as scheduled. If you cannot attend that day, please inform us in advance so we can rest assured and make appropriate arrangements.