Case_birdseed | My Site 4

“Birdseed” seeks for a gentle adaptation method for birds in fast-changing urban ecosystem, as climate change and human activities are reshaping urban plant species. It offers birds specially-designed fruits 3D-printed from AIGC models, acting as a medium for AI to communicate with birds.Based on bird behavior and ecological data, gradually conditioning birds’ taste to new plants. This fosters resilient urban ecosystems and explores AI’s sustainable cooperation with birds.

By engaging birds—the natural agents of seed dispersal—and employing AI-assisted birdseed printing, Birdseed fosters a new symbiosis between humans and nature through shared, responsive technology, encouraging coexistence and ecological resilience. Birdseed illustrate the technology as part of ecological system.

Multi-species Living.

Inspired by the philosophies of Donald Haraway and Bruno Latour, Birdseed promotes interspecies collaboration, emphasizing the dynamic among speices in ever-changing secosystems. As climate change and human activities restructuring urban ecosystem, this project advoca-tes for a future where AI and natural entities collaborate to sustain ecological coevolution, envisions a resilient ecosystem with collabrating relationship between technology and nature.

Facilitating Human-Nature Communication via AI

This project enables a unique dialogue between humans and nature through AI. AI gathers and processes ecological data along with human objectives for sustainable living, translating them into bird-recognizable signals embedded in birdseed. Colors, shapes, and flavors—each element crafted by AI—convey specific information to birds, bridging a communication gap and creating a shared language between species.

Adapting Birds to Change

Climate change and urbanization force cities to restructure their vegetation to include climate-adaptive species. However, this disrupts ecological relationships, as seed-dispersing animals like birds may struggle to adapt to unfamiliar plants, threatening both biodiversity and the effectiveness of urban greening efforts. Birdseed uses AI-generated, 3D-printed fruits to gradually condition birds’ preferences toward unfamiliar plants. By analyzing birds’ feeding behaviors, AI adjusts fruit design—shape, texture, and color—to align avian diets with changing urban greenery. This gentle adaptation fosters interspecies cooperation, supports resilient urban ecosystems, and minimizes disruption to bird populations, ensuring biodiversity thrives in rapidly evolving urban environments.

Connecting Humans and Nature through Shared Technology.

In a world increasingly shaped by technology, Birdseed offers a method to harmonize human innovation with natural processes. Through 3D printing and AI-powered local ecological insights, we bridge the divide between humans and the environment. By producing birdseed tailored to both the region’s plant life and the preferences of local bird species, the project demonstrates a shared technological solution that brings human and ecologi-cal knowledge together, enhancing urban ecosystem and environmental sustainability.

3D Printing as Communication Medium

In the project, 3D-printed, AI-generated fruit simulate the shape, texture, and color familiar to birds, serving as a communication medium between AI and avian species. This innovative approach facilitates interspecies communication, enabling AI to influence animal behavior through tailored, tangible interfaces, demonstrating how technology can bridge gaps between species. It provides a framework for studying and guiding animal behavior, offering insights into ecological adaptation and conservation strategies. This integration of AI and 3D printing exemplifies a novel paradigm in interspecies interaction research.

References

Zou Y. Speculating on Design, Life Styles and Forms: Studies in the Contexts of Climate Change and Sustainability[M]. Oslo: Oslo School of Architecture and Design Press, 2023.
Giaccardi E. and Redström J. ‘Technology and more-than-human design’[J] Design Issues, 2020, 36(4) , 16-29.
Forlano L. ‘Posthumanism and design’[J] She Ji, 2017, 3(1), 16-29.

Credits

Project Instructor: Zou Yue

Design Investigation: Lu Shenhuan, Gong Haiqi, Yu Xinnan