Ship or Die at Accelerate 2025: Introducing E.A.T. (Lance Weiler - Decentralized Futures)

In a groundbreaking announcement at Accelerate 2025, Lance Weiler unveiled a revolutionary collaboration between the Solana Foundation and Columbia University, set to redefine the intersection of art and technology in the decentralized era.

Summary

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Lance Weiler, representing the Digital Storytelling Lab at Columbia University, introduced a visionary project that aims to revive and decentralize the spirit of Experiments in Art and Technology (EAT), a pioneering program from the 1960s. This new initiative, backed by the Solana Foundation, seeks to create a decentralized incubator for bold experiments and wild ideas, bridging the gap between artists and technologists.

The project draws inspiration from the original EAT program at Bell Labs, which fostered collaborations between artists and engineers, leading to significant technological innovations. By decentralizing this concept, Weiler envisions a future where anyone, regardless of their skill level or background, can contribute to pushing the boundaries of both art and technology.

This collaboration will involve a series of events, including dinners, conversations, hackathons, and prototypes, with the first event planned around NFT NYC. The initiative aims to explore alternative models for the creator economy, focusing on shared authorship, participatory design, and open access in the context of decentralized technologies.

Key Points:

The Origin of EAT

EAT, or Experiments in Art and Technology, was a pioneering program initiated at Bell Labs in the 1960s. Led by Billy Klüver, an engineer with a passion for art, EAT facilitated collaborations between artists and engineers. This interdisciplinary approach led to the development of various innovative technologies, including advancements in television, projection, live video, fiber optic cameras, sonar, wireless sound transmissions, remote control, moving platforms, and interactive environments.

The program's success demonstrated how art could drive technological innovation, and vice versa. It ran from 1966 to 2001, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire similar initiatives today, such as Rhizome's work and the New Inc. incubator at the New Museum.

Decentralizing EAT for the Modern Era

Weiler proposes a decentralized version of EAT, leveraging blockchain technology and the Solana ecosystem. This new initiative aims to democratize the collaborative process, allowing anyone to participate in art-driven innovation, regardless of their affiliation with a major institution like Bell Labs.

The decentralized EAT concept envisions an open platform where builders, engineers, technologists, creative technologists, and artists of all skill levels can come together to explore new possibilities. This approach has the potential to spark unprecedented innovation by harnessing the collective creativity and expertise of a global, diverse community.

Solana Foundation and Columbia University Collaboration

The collaboration between the Solana Foundation and Columbia University's Digital Storytelling Lab marks a significant step towards realizing the vision of a decentralized EAT. This partnership will facilitate a series of events, including dinners, conversations, hackathons, and prototype development sessions.

These events aim to bring together diverse participants to explore the future of decentralized technology and its intersection with art. The first event is planned to coincide with NFT NYC, with activities scheduled at various locations including Lincoln Center and the Skyline.

Rethinking the Creator Economy

Weiler emphasizes the importance of this initiative in the context of today's creator economy, which he describes as increasingly automated and extractive. The decentralized futures project explores alternative models that prioritize shared authorship, participatory design, and open access.

This approach presents an opportunity to reimagine how culture is created and owned. By fostering meaningful co-creation and reshaping creative practices, the initiative aims to contribute to a more sustainable future for artists and creators in the digital age.

The Role of Arts and Humanities in Shaping Technology

A key aspect of this initiative is the recognition of the crucial role that arts and humanities can play in shaping emerging technologies, particularly in the era of generative AI and blockchain. Weiler argues that by involving artists and humanists in the development process, we can ensure that technology is shaped with human values and creativity at its core, rather than allowing technology to shape us without consideration for its broader impacts.

Facts + Figures

• EAT (Experiments in Art and Technology) ran from 1966 to 2001
• The original EAT program involved 10 artists collaborating with 30 engineers from Bell Labs
• The new decentralized EAT initiative is a collaboration between the Solana Foundation and Columbia University
• The first event of the new initiative is planned to coincide with NFT NYC
• Events will be held at various locations including Lincoln Center and the Skyline
• The initiative aims to explore alternative models for the creator economy, focusing on shared authorship and participatory design
• The project seeks to involve participants of all skill levels, from professional engineers to amateur artists

Top quotes

• "What if this was decentralized? What if, instead of having to work with just Bell Labs, what if anybody could be part of this innovation?"
• "We're introducing a collaboration with the Solana Foundation in conjunction with Columbia University where we're going to be staging a series of dinners and conversations, hackathons and prototypes."
• "Today's creator economy grows increasingly automated and extractive, decentralized futures explores alternative models, grounded in shared authorship, participatory design and open access."
• "This is an incredible, unique moment in time with the rise of generative tools, the way that we shape them. I think arts and humanities can be a part of that."
• "Humanity can help shape the technology before it shapes us."

Questions Answered

What is the new initiative announced by Lance Weiler?

Lance Weiler announced a collaboration between the Solana Foundation and Columbia University to create a decentralized version of the Experiments in Art and Technology (EAT) program. This initiative aims to foster innovation by bringing together artists, technologists, and creators of all skill levels to explore the intersection of art and decentralized technology through a series of events, hackathons, and prototypes.

How does this new initiative differ from the original EAT program?

While the original EAT program was centered around Bell Labs and involved a select group of artists and engineers, the new initiative aims to decentralize this concept. It opens up participation to anyone interested in exploring the future of decentralized technology and art, regardless of their institutional affiliation or skill level. This democratized approach has the potential to spark more diverse and widespread innovation.

When and where will the first event of this initiative take place?

The first event of this initiative is planned to coincide with NFT NYC. While specific dates were not mentioned, Weiler indicated that activities would be held at various locations around New York City, including Lincoln Center and the Skyline. These events will include dinners, conversations, hackathons, and prototype development sessions.

How does this initiative aim to impact the creator economy?

This initiative seeks to address the increasingly automated and extractive nature of today's creator economy by exploring alternative models. It focuses on shared authorship, participatory design, and open access, aiming to rethink how culture is created and owned. The goal is to foster more sustainable and equitable practices for creators in the digital age, leveraging decentralized technologies.

What role do arts and humanities play in this initiative?

Arts and humanities are positioned as crucial elements in shaping emerging technologies. Weiler argues that by involving artists and humanists in the development process of new technologies, we can ensure that these tools are created with human values and creativity at their core. This approach aims to guide technological development in a way that benefits humanity rather than allowing technology to shape society without consideration for its broader impacts.