Sports · Sun Belt Post
In September 2025, Olivia Tai, a 26-year-old artist in San Francisco, began a participatory art project called 'What We Tell AI.' She set up a confessions booth in Mission Dolores Park with a message: 'Confessions Box: Tell Me Your AI Secret.' Tai used blank notecards and a cardboard sign to collect anonymous notes from people about their AI use. One note stood out: 'I cloned my ex's voice to have a last conversation with him. And it helped me finally move on.' Tai felt she could infer the writer's emotional state from the confession, revealing how AI is used to navigate personal struggles like breakups and relationships.
Her project, inspired by PostSecret, became an instant hit, with participants writing down AI-related confessions and dropping them into a bowl. Tai facilitated workshops where people read the confessions aloud, creating a new confessional experience in the age of AI. Over 350 notes have been collected, reflecting diverse uses of AI, from emotional support to work and education.
Some confessions express pride in using AI to overcome challenges, while others reveal shame and guilt. The project has been taken to over 20 sites across the U.S., including parks, shopping malls, and AI-focused workshops. Tai considers the notes an 'ethnographic snapshot' of how people interact with AI, highlighting concerns about the lack of norms around AI use in personal, professional, and social contexts.
She argues that sharing these confessions can help normalize discussions about AI use and address broader societal issues, such as the impact of AI on relationships and data privacy. Tai’s goal is to reduce shame and secrecy around AI use, encouraging people to be more open about their experiences and fostering conversations about the ethical implications of AI.
Source: CNBC
