About
An AI-generated male Northern white rhino — extinct in real life — wanders a projection room in Cooper Hewitt's immersive installation.
The Northern white rhino is functionally extinct, and Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg brings back a male as a life-size digital animal whose behavior was built from DeepMind research and animated by The Mill. Watching it flicker toward realism raises an uncomfortable question: why build a substitute instead of saving the real thing? It is a six-minute loop on Cooper Hewitt's first floor that sticks with you long after.
What to expect
A darkened room with a paired projector-and-screen video installation running about six minutes, with sound. It sits within Design Across Time, which fills the Carnegie Mansion's first floor with objects from the Smithsonian's design collection.
Good to know
- The video runs a little over six minutes, so it is easy to watch the full loop
- Part of Design Across Time on the museum's first floor
- Nearest subway is the 4/5/6 at 86th Street or 96th Street
- A strong conversation-starter for teens interested in AI and conservation
Common questions
Is the rhino real footage?
No. It is a digital recreation made with artificial intelligence and visual effects.
How long is the installation?
The museum lists the video at 6 minutes 18 seconds.