San Francisco Ballet dances fathomless AI queries in ‘Mere Mortals’.

In the ballet Mere Mortals, the myth of Pandora’s Box is retold with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). The ballet, performed by San Francisco Ballet, explores the complex issues surrounding AI and its impact on society. The production includes electronic music and visuals generated with the assistance of AI. The ballet’s director, Tamara Rojo, states that the performance aims to tackle the complicated feelings and creative promise of AI. The ballet does not provide definitive answers to the benefits or risks of AI, but instead encourages the audience to embrace ambiguity. Choreographer Aszure Barton, who worked on the production, sees the performance as an opportunity to reinterpret the ancient myth. In this retelling, Pandora represents a new human species with advanced skills. The score for the ballet was composed by Sam Shepherd and combines live orchestral music with electronic instruments. The visuals were produced by Barcelona-based artists Pablo Barquín and Anna Diaz. The performance aims to create a multi-sensory experience for the audience.