An actor stands on stage. He speaks, moves and follows the instructions of an artificial intelligence. What the two produce together surprises the audience and researchers alike. This experiment was the core of the art project "The Answering Machine". For four years, scientists from the Technical University of Dresden, together with partners from Zurich, Stuttgart and Tübingen, investigated how humans and AI can be creative together. The Volkswagen Foundation funded the project.
The team started with simple chatbots, i.e. computer programs that write texts and answer questions. The results on stage were still bumpy at the time. "We started with classic chatbots, which produced very creative but often absurd dialogues in the demo performances, for example," says Stefan Scherbaum, Professor of Methods in Psychology and Cognitive Modelling at TU Dresden.
Conclusion with a public audience in Dresden
On March 25 and 26, 2026, the project will end with an international symposium at the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden. The title is "Teaming Up with Generative AI: From Tool Use to Partnership". Scientists, artists and practitioners from many disciplines will come together there. Their common question: How can AI not replace humans, but enhance their abilities?
Those who would like to experience for themselves how humans and AI interact on stage will have the opportunity to do so at three public events surrounding the symposium. The performances will be held in German.
Dates:
24.3.2026, 8 pm Project Theatre Dresden "Humanize Me" (Tickets)
26.3.2026 7.30 pm Hygiene Museum "Memories of my time as a human", incl. panel discussion (sold out, possibly still remaining tickets)
27.3.2026 19.30 Kulturhafen Dresden "Von der Wiege bis zur Bahre - Chatbots, Agents, Avatare" (Tickets)
KI Research - TU Dresden - Artificial Intelligence - The Answering Machine - ChatGPT - Stage Performance - Human-Machine Interaction - Deutsches Hygiene-Museum
