The Thinking Image: From Visual Signs to Algorithms. A Semiotic Analysis of AI Image Recognition.

The Thinking Image

This workshop addresses a profound epistemological inquiry situated at the intersection of semiotics, visual media, and artificial intelligence. It explores the intricate relationship between the image and AI through a critical semiotic lens, posing a central question: Does Artificial Intelligence comprehend the image as a signifying system, or does it merely process it as decontextualized computational data? Furthermore, does AI “understand” images in the human sense, or does it construct and disseminate a fundamentally different layer of meaning?

While semiotics views the image as a sign laden with culture, memory, and social context, AI systems treat it as a data matrix decomposed into patterns, weights, and probabilities. This workshop goes beyond mere comparison; it seeks to expose the cognitive gap between “human interpretation” and “algorithmic recognition.” By bridging theoretical grounding with practical application—analyzing real-world images alongside AI-generated outputs—the session provides participants with an interactive experience that fosters critical thinking regarding contemporary digital imagery. Ultimately, the workshop examines the boundaries of machine vision and its impact on visual communication, content production, and image ethics in the digital era.