Large Nature Model: Coral  is an exploration of how technology and nature can intersect to inspire a new form of digital engagement with our natural world. This artwork draws attention to the urgency of climate change and the fragility of our ecosystems, with a specific focus on coral reefs. Using a dataset of approximately 100 million images, the piece immerses viewers in an artificial and abstract environment, representing the existing beauty of global biodiversity.

At the core of this work is the Large Nature Model (LNM), the world’s first open-source generative AI model devoted to nature, developed by Refik Anadol Studio. Trained on an extensive and ethically sourced dataset of the natural world, LNM serves as a bridge between scientific research, environmental advocacy, and artistic expression. Large Nature Model: Coral emphasizes the importance of sourcing and preserving natural data responsibly. The piece invites viewers to engage with the balance between human innovation and nature’s vulnerability, with a vision for the future where AI and digital technologies are used to enhance our understanding of the natural world, helping us connect more deeply with it.

The artwork exemplifies the integration of AI into the realm of environmental art, offering a powerful message: through technology, we have the tools to imagine a future where human creativity and AI coexist in harmony with the environment. Refik Anadol’s mission in creating this piece is to bridge the digital and physical worlds, using AI to inspire deeper reflection and responsibility toward nature. This immersive, data-driven narrative serves as a call to action for both preservation and innovation—a symbol of how we can shape our future together through the power of technology and sustainability.

 “It’s an honor to participate in this year’s Summit of the Future and be part of the critical dialogues shaping our global future. As an interdisciplinary artist, I hope that Large Nature Model: Coral inspires people to see how technology can foster deeper connections with our planet and empower us to work together toward a more sustainable world. I’m also grateful for the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation’s support of the RAS AI Foundation’s Large Nature Model research. Established in 2023, RAS AI Foundation is dedicated to the ethical integration of art, science, and technology, ensuring responsible innovation that drives forward both creative and scientific exploration.”

“AI is not just a tool for innovation—it’s a force that can reshape how we see our world, reconnecting us with the beauty and fragility of nature in ways never before possible. Refik Anadol’s brilliant vision allows him to use technology to engage the senses and spark a deeper emotional connection to our planet. The Large Nature Model: Coral is a testament to this vision, illustrating how AI-driven art can inspire a profound sense of responsibility and wonder for the natural world. By merging technology with artistic expression, we open new pathways for engagement, helping humanity see not just the challenges but the opportunities to build a sustainable future. As we look toward the Summit of the Future, we must seize this moment to harness AI’s power to shift perspectives and drive collective change for generations to come.”

Refik Anadol (b. 1985, Istanbul, Turkey) is an internationally renowned media artist, director, and pioneer in the aesthetics of data and machine intelligence. He is the co-founder of Refik Anadol Studio in Los Angeles and teaches at UCLA’s Department of Design Media Arts. Anadol’s work locates creativity at the intersection of humans and machines. Using data as the foundation of the artwork, created through machine learning algorithms, Anadol creates site-specific data paintings and sculptures, live performances featuring audio and visuals, and immersive installations. His work has been exhibited at venues including MoMA, Centre Pompidou-Metz, Serpentine Galleries, Art Basel, National Gallery of Victoria, Venice Architecture Biennale, Hammer Museum, Arken Museum, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Ars Electronica, Istanbul Modern, and ZKM | Center for Art and New Media.

Established in 2014 by Refik Anadol and Efsun Erkiliç, the Los Angeles-based Refik Anadol Studio produces enthralling and immersive media art intended for anyone, any age, and any background. The award-winning studio has been engaged by leading tech companies, groundbreaking researchers, and cutting-edge thought leaders to produce projects that have been shown in more than 70 cities, spanning six continents, and experienced by millions of ardent fans. In taking the data that flows around us as the primary material and the neural network of a computerized mind as a collaborator, Anadol and his team paint with a thinking brush, offering us radical visualizations of our digitized memories and expanding the possibilities of interdisciplinary arts.

The Summit is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reboot global collaboration and make the multilateral system fit to address the ever-faster change in our interconnected world. New and emerging threats and challenges must be tackled, and potential opportunities harnessed for the benefit of all. This can only happen through effective international cooperation.

The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence and data science solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. Led by President Vilas Dhar, a global scholar on AI policy, computer scientist, and member of the United Nations High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence, the Foundation works in partnership with public, private, and social institutions to drive progress on humanity’s most pressing challenges.