"Octet" is a multiplayer game and sensory experience designed to explore collective intelligence through the lens of octopi. Human exceptionalism—the belief that humans exist separately from the ecosystems they inhabit—makes it difficult to empathize with other species or groups we can't directly communicate with. This cultural phenomenon hampers our ability to address global issues, emphasizing the need for social and cognitive science to create meaningful change.
Octopi challenge human-centric views of intelligence, as their decentralized nervous system, with most neurons located in their tentacles, suggests that each tentacle may have its own autonomy and memory. "Octet" uses this concept of shared intelligence to encourage players to shift from individualistic decision-making to a more community-driven approach.
Set in a post-apocalyptic future where ecological collapse has led to the decline of human civilization, "Octet" immerses players in groups called Octets—clusters of eight humans who are sensorially linked and must make decisions as a collective. Players must work together to navigate challenges that affect the entire Octet and their world.
Through movement, thought, and nonverbal communication, "Octet" challenges players to rethink the value of collective intelligence. The game fosters empathy and cooperation, encouraging players to embrace interconnectedness over individualism and highlighting the importance of community-based problem-solving in the face of global crises.
Jiabao Li is an artist, assistant professor at The University of Texas at Austin, founding director of Ecocentric Future Lab, and visiting professor at Stanford. She creates works addressing climate change, multispecies futures, humane technology, and perceptions. Her mediums include wearable, robot, AR/VR, performance, scientific experiment, installation. In Jiabao’s TED Talk, she uncovered how technology mediates the way we perceive reality. Her recent solo exhibitions include “Chill Out: The Arctic Couldn’t”, “Progenitorial Hysteresis”, “Perception Omnifold”, and “Ecological Soup: Interspecies Encounters”.
Jiabao is the recipient of numerous awards including Forbes China 30 Under 30, STARTS Prize, Falling Walls, Fast Company, and the Outstanding Instructor Award from Bio Design Challenge. Her work has been exhibited internationally, at MoMA, Venice Architecture Biennale, Ars Electronica, Exploratorium, Today Art Museum Biennial, SIGGRAPH, Milan and Dubai Design Week, ISEA, etc. Her academic papers have been published in top conferences and journals including SIGGRAPH, CHI, IEEE VIS. Her work has been featured on Fast Company, Art Forum, Business Insider, Bloomberg, South China Morning Post, Domus, Yanko Design, Harvard Political Review, Leonardo. She is a member of Onassis Foundation and a Fellow at Ars Electronica Founding lab. She graduated from Harvard GSD with Distinction and thesis award.
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