Discover Chat Haus: The Ultimate Coworking Hub for AI Chatbots | TechCrunch

In Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood, there’s a unique coworking space that catches the eye. It’s called Chat Haus, but it’s not for humans; it’s a playground for AI chatbots. Picture this: you walk by and see cardboard robots tapping away at their tiny keyboards, all under the watchful gaze of cardboard people.

Chat Haus is the brainchild of artist Nim Ben-Reuven. This art exhibit features cardboard figures working at desks, their movements powered by small motors. Each workspace is humorously priced at $1,999 a month, pointing to the ridiculousness of today’s tech landscape.

Ben-Reuven created Chat Haus to address his frustrations with the rapid advancement of technology. As his graphic design and videography projects pivot toward AI, he’s faced some challenges—like losing freelance gigs to automated tools. “It became a way for me to cope,” he explained. “I wanted to laugh at the industry’s shift instead of being bitter about it.”

His approach is about keeping things light. Instead of creating something dark or negative, he’s shaped a whimsical space that can engage viewers of all ages. During our chat, people passing by couldn’t resist stopping to take pictures or ask questions about the exhibit.

Despite the challenges posed by AI in creative fields, Ben-Reuven sees it as less dire than other global issues. “AI feels like a light topic compared to wars and deeper personal traumas happening in the world,” he said.

Ben-Reuven has a history of working with cardboard. In graduate school, he crafted a life-sized model of an airport terminal from cardboard. His robots, affectionately named “cardboard babies,” are both charming and a critique of the AI conversation. “Cardboard is fragile, much like how I see AI affecting creativity. It looks appealing at first but lacks depth upon closer inspection,” he explained.

He understands the allure of AI-generated art. “It’s like junk food; it gives a quick thrill but lacks substance,” he said, capturing how easily people are drawn to the shiny surface of tech-generated creativity.

Chat Haus is a temporary installation since the building is awaiting renovation permits. Ben-Reuven hopes to keep the exhibit running until at least mid-May and dreams of moving it to a larger space. He’s even considering how to manage extra materials once the show is over.

He envisioned a quirky world of cardboard robots tirelessly working on our ChatGPT prompts, humorously exaggerating just how much energy AI could consume. “It’s like imagining these robots in a warehouse, chugging electricity like Switzerland uses in a year,” he quipped.

If you’re in the area, you can find Chat Haus at 121 Norman Avenue, Brooklyn. It’s a fascinating look into the intersection of art and technology, questioning how much we lean on AI today.

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