The Illusion of Thinking

The group exhibition "The Illusion of Thinking" explores the often-overlooked implications of artificial intelligence and the idea that AI can think and reason. While AI often gives the impression of genuine understanding, it actually reflects human ideas primarily through memory and imitation. The exhibition thus raises fundamental questions about what "understanding" actually means.

As AI systems increasingly permeate daily life, The Illusion of Thinking challenges dominant narratives about technological progress and the quest for consciousness. The exhibition highlights the limits of optimization, the complexity of learning, and the infrastructures that shape AI development.

By looking beyond the desire for "thinking machines," The Illusion of Thinking reflects on the value systems and myths that drive technological innovation—and on what might be lost in the constant drive for efficiency. The exhibition invites visitors to rethink what thinking truly means, for both machines and humans.

Featuring work by:

Constant Dullaart

Dirk Paesmans

Femke Herregraven

Flavia Dzodan

Evelina Rajca

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer

With contributions from:

Yuk Hui

Nora O' Murchú

Florian Weigl

Context

This exhibition and publication are part of V2_'s long-term curatorial research into Artificial Inequality . Following Reasonable Doubt (2021), which examined structural inequality within technological systems, and {class} – On Consequences in Algorithmic Classification (2023), which examined the societal impact of algorithmic categorization, The Illusion of Thinking (2025) is the third chapter in this ongoing research.