New Museum of Idaho exhibit highlights history and evolution of AI

Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com

IDAHO FALLS – A new Museum of Idaho exhibit gives locals a look at the history and evolution of artificial intelligence.

“Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & the Machine” opens Feb. 1. HP Newquist, director of the Relayer Group, the company that created the exhibit, tells EastIdahoNews.com its purpose is to make AI real and relevant for the general public.

“That involves looking at the history of brain science, looking at how our brains and minds work and the attempt of humans throughout history to duplicate the human mind,” Newquist says.

The release of ChatGPT in 2022 culminated decades of AI development. Since then, AI has become increasingly accessible, and some aspects of it are used in today’s smartphones and computers. But Hollywood has portrayed it in numerous ways over the years. The 2004 film “I, Robot” is one example.

The exhibit also references “Frankenstein” and the 1927 film “Metropolis” as early pop-culture examples of artificial intelligence and “how bad things can go when we mess with technology.”

Multiple displays in the exhibit explain that robots and AI aren’t always the same.

“Robots are not AI — unless they are programmed with software that makes it seem as if they are thinking. Most of the robots in use today do not have this capability,” a museum display says.

Relayer Group created the exhibit in 2019, which now has to be constantly updated to keep up with rapid developments in AI. Newquist fully expects some aspects of the exhibit to change during its run at the Museum of Idaho.

“It’s the first exhibit we’ve done where we have to check every day to see what we’re going to do to change it,” he says.

The exhibit comes at a time when conversations about AI are front and center in Washington. Last week, President Donald Trump signed numerous executive orders revoking past government policies that “act as barriers to American AI innovation.”

His order calls for American dominance in AI development, and says “we must develop AI systems that are free from ideological bias or engineered social agendas.”

The release this week of Chinese startup DeepSeek sparks additional concerns, showing the world what CNN calls “a window into Chinese censorship and information control.”

“Game-changer,” Newquist says of the app. “China is now putting a stake in the ground in terms of its ability to create AI.”

Newquist cites several deep fakes in the exhibit — including an image of a teary-eyed little girl holding a puppy in the wake of Hurricane Helene — that have been circulating on social media.

AI-generated photo of Hurricane Helene victim on display at the Museum of Idaho | Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com

He says the ability to spread a false narrative by creating fake images shows why additional regulations on AI are needed.

“Companies aren’t going to self-regulate. There’s too much money at stake. But something has to be done,” says Newquist. “While I am not a fan of government intervention or regulation, there has to be some guardrails (in place).”

Just like nuclear power, Newquist says AI can be used for good or evil, and some government oversight could keep that in check.

Museum Executive Director Jeff Carr says they always strive for relevance with each of their exhibits. He says the AI exhibit is more relevant and timely than others and hopes it helps “facilitate learning and conversations that are happening in people’s lives.”

“We’ve had people say we’re trying to push an agenda,” says Carr. “We’re not pushing any sort of agenda. We’re just saying, ‘This is happening in our lives. Let’s learn about it so we can … have intelligent conversations about it.”

“They (the public) need to understand what AI is,” Newquist adds. “There is incredible potential, but also peril in AI.”

“Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & the Machine” will run through May 4. To buy tickets or learn more, click here.