The Glass Room, an international exhibit and public intervention that focuses on the social impacts of technology and artificial intelligence, launched at Western University Thursday evening at the D.B. Weldon Library in Room 112.

Hosted by the Starling Centre and the Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS), the free exhibit poses the question of whether individuals have the power to shape their interactions with technology. According to the official website, the exhibit aims to “demystify technology” and provide a clear understanding on how it affects our societies.

But this isn’t the first time the exhibit has been installed in Canada. In Oct. 2024, Satellite Project Space held the exhibition for 19 days in downtown London. This time, it will be open for over three months at the university, closing on April 30.

Alissa Centivany, co-director of The Starling Centre and professor at FIMS, says having the exhibit in the library will give students an accessible space to reflect and explore the impacts of technology on their lives.

“There are lots of ways our decision making, actions and behaviours are manipulated subtly through technology and artificial intelligence,” says Centivany. “Becoming more aware will hopefully enable people to have more autonomy over their technology use in the future.”

The exhibit showcases interactive pieces and hands-on activities, such as a lab that teaches visitors how to identify a deepfake, an activity to test visitor skills at spotting fake news and disinformation, and posters that inform visitors of surveillance technologies through mobile devices. There are screens playing related videos with accessible headphones, which provide an audiovisual experience.

Western students, faculty and Starling members attended the launch. Some students said the exhibit has changed the way they think about artificial intelligence and social media.

Mekail Mujtaba, a student at Western, says he has become more aware of artificial intelligence through the exhibit and will be more attentive in the future.

“I now have a better understanding of the dynamics at play in technology and how it applies to us as individuals,” says Mujtaba.

The Glass Room has been installed in 72 countries and 480 thousand people have engaged with the exhibit globally. London is the only city in Canada that has held the exhibit.

Dorotea Gucciardo, a Research Coordinator at the Starling Centre, says the exhibit gives visitors the chance to question the validity or reliability of information they receive through technology.

“I hope The Glass Room allows Londoners to become more critical and curious. To be unafraid to ask questions about technology and recognize that they do have control over the way they use it,” says Gucciardo.

There are books that visitors can read during their time at the exhibit, exploring topics such as algorithms, digital advocacy, resisting aspects of artificial intelligence and a data detox kit.

In the coming weeks, Centivany says the Starling Centre will be preparing additional materials for the exhibit. Visitors can browse the current displays during library hours.

“We have a lot more power over technology than we think,” says Gucciardo. “The more curious we are, the more we learn about that power, the more we can take action.”