Design with the floating signifier: On Future Breakouts and Breakthroughs with Machine Intelligence

The concept of “floating signifier” is used to highlight the ambiguous nature of technological advancements, emphasizing the need for a grounded understanding of them in a desired future. By examining the promises and realities of emerging technologies like 3D printing and advanced AI systems, we can uncover what is hidden from their grand promises. The discussion includes a critical evaluation of how digital tools, integrated with machine intelligence, could potentially shape future design paradigms, urging a reflective stance on the societal and political dimensions that accompany technological progress. This paper proposes a forward-thinking approach to design, one that is attuned to both the capabilities and limitations of current technologies, and that anticipates the troubles of incorporating them into our everyday lives.