A few years ago, I started tinkering with artificial intelligence (AI) in our workshop; not as an experiment, but as a practical tool to help me calculate milling parameters for CNC projects. That’s how it began: a single-purpose collaboration between human and machine.
CNC, short for Computer Numeric Control, relies on a programming language called G-code. AI is Fluent. Effortlessly fluent. It doesn’t just speak G-code—it speaks all code. Whether I’m writing PHP for interface logic or C++ for microcontroller firmware, AI has become my go-to co-pilot. It’s like having a full-stack developer living in my toolbox.
But this partnership has gone way beyond code.
I’ve always been drawn to art that moves; literally. Static pieces are fine, but I want my work to blink, pulse, react, and evolve. With AI in the mix, I can source compatible parts, troubleshoot obscure issues, and uncover instructions for building just about anything. My projects now span mechanical, electrical, and interactive domains. Design and fabrication are just the beginning.
Take LED lighting. I dove headfirst into parallel circuits, addressable strips, matrices, and controllers because AI was there every step of the way, guiding me through the jungle of specs and wiring diagrams. Now my setups are flashy AF—and I mean that in the most literal, light-show-synced sense.
But why stop at lights?
I leveled up. Built a single-board computer using a Raspberry Pi and a 7-inch touchscreen. Some of my new builds need brains, and now I’ve got a modular, customizable one ready to drop into any project. I could have done this project solo (I gots skillz), but AI made the process stupid fast. It was almost too easy. The whole thing cost under $200 in parts and runs completely free of Microsoft, Google, or Apple software. No camera. No mic. Just input jacks for optional add-ons. No logins. No registrations. It boots with a VPN and comes preloaded with an onion browser. Take that, internet tracker bots.
Whether I’m making, fixing, or hacking, AI is now my everyday assistant. It helps me refine old methods and tackle new ones I used to consider too complex or time-consuming. Case in point: my latest Frankenstein—a full graphics display console with stereo sound and a synchronized light show. It’s still in early development, but imagine an “interactive art appliance” or “conceptual electronic device.” That’s the vibe.
Here’s the parts list so far:
– Two microcontrollers
– Multiple LCDs, including a 4-inch touchscreen
– Animated LEDs (lots)
– Stereo speakers
– Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
– Panels of knobs, switches, and dials
– And yes, an alarm clock
All housed in a custom copper enclosure. Because why not.
This curious appliance will display a limited series of contextual animation art—a six-minute loop of exclusive visuals and soundtrack, viewable only on this device. It will also pair with any phone so it can be used as a Bluetooth party speaker. It’s a home appliance no one asked for, which is exactly why I’m building it. Once it’s done, I’ll probably move on to the next insane idea. That’s how it works around here.
Of course, six minutes of animation means I had to flex my 3D fingers. I’ve been a Blender user for decades, but I don’t animate daily anymore. Sometimes I get rusty. AI doesn’t. It knows Blender inside and out and keeps my workflow humming with instant answers when I hit a wall in that sprawling interface.
Even Geoffrey Hinton, the so-called Godfather of AI, admits he can’t predict the full impact of artificial intelligence on civilization. But one thing’s clear: it’s going to touch everything. Science and tech are moving at breakneck speed. The AI future isn’t coming. It’s already here.
I don’t know if emerging designers are being trained to thrive in a world where AI is their biggest competitor. But I do know this: creative industries are in the crosshairs. Ironically, the very machines that threaten to automate us out of relevance might also be our best tools for staying in the game.
That’s the plan at Hungry Knife: fight fire with fire. Use AI to elevate our craft, push boundaries, and stay ahead of the curve. Because if artificial intelligence is everywhere, we’re gonna need it in the workshop too.