Alexander Mordvintsev

lexander Mordvintsev is a researcher-artist acclaimed as the creative mind behind DeepDream, the 2015 algorithm that revealed the visionary potential of neural networks. Originally from Russia and based in Zurich, Mordvintsev works at the intersection of computer science and art. In his role at Google Research, he pioneered techniques to visualize the inner workings of deep neural networks, essentially training AIs to “dream” and then capturing those dreams as images. The results were famously psychedelic: animals morphing out of clouds, buildings blossoming into eyes – a wholly new aesthetic that transformed our conception of what computers could create. This breakthrough not only sparked a new subgenre of AI art but also offered insight into how artificial intelligence “sees” the world.

Beyond DeepDream, Mordvintsev’s artistic practice has continued to explore emergent phenomena in complex systems. Combining expertise in machine learning, computer vision, and graphics, he creates remarkable visuals by steering algorithms to find patterns and shapes that often elude human imagination. His works – which he terms visual interpretations of complex networks – have been exhibited in venues from cutting-edge digital art festivals to traditional galleries, signaling the art world’s recognition of their significance. Mordvintsev remains an active voice in the AI art community, frequently engaging in dialogue about the creative and ethical dimensions of AI.